July 27, 2014 - Iceland - Sheep

Icelandic sheep are a unique breed. They are direct descendants of sheep brought to Iceland by the Vikings over a thousand years ago. Over this long history, the sheep have developed a tolerance for cold, harsh weather. Sheep are raised mainly for the meat but wool is an important product as well.

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We were in Iceland during the time that lambs were being born. Many ewes have twins like this one but some even have triplets.

SheepHúsavíkareaIceland20140519

Many sheep are all white but they can also be black or brown. Different patterns of spots add to the variety of colors of the Icelandic sheep.

SheepIcelandicWestmanIslandsIceland20140523

Icelandic sheep roam freely in the hills during summer. Here’s a family of sheep near the road in the
Húsavík area.

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What’s cuter than a little lamb?

SheepHúsavíkareaIceland20140519

Here’s mom and her two little ones. She hasn’t been sheared yet so you can see how long the wool grows over the winter. Wool does not grow on the face or legs of these sheep. They have two layers of wool. The outer layer is longer, thicker, and waterproof. It is often used for carpets. The inner layer is short and fine. Because it is so soft, it’s used for clothing items that go next to the skin. The two layers are carded together to make a unique blend of wool used for the traditional Icelandic sweaters.

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It’s fun to watch the energetic little lambs running around in the fields. This one shows one of the spotting patterns I mentioned above.

SheepSkagafjörðurIceland20140516