Eldey

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eldey, island off the southwest tip of Reykjanes Peninsula

Eldey (Icelandic: Fire Island) is a small island about 10 miles off the coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest Iceland. Located west-southwest of Reykjavík, the island of Eldey covers an area of about 0.03 square kilometres, and rises to a height of 77 metres. Its sheer cliffs are home to large numbers of birds, including the largest gannet colony in the world, with some 70,000 members.

The island formerly supported a large population of great auk before the species was hunted to extinction. The last known specimen was killed on Eldey on 3 June 1844.

[edit] Area map

Eldey island is southwest of Keflavik (lower left).

v • d • e Islands of Iceland

Drangey · Eldey · Flatey in Breiðafjörður · Flatey in Skjálfandi · Grímsey · Heimaey · Hrísey · Kolbeinsey · Lundey · Papey · Surtsey · Vestmannaeyjar · Videy