A webcam was set up yesterday on the rocky island of Eldey, off Iceland’s southwestern coast. The island is one of the largest gannet colonies in the world. The camera and the team that set up the camera was lowered down from a helicopter.
The webcam is the brainchild of Árni Johnsen, MP for the Independence Party. “I discussed it with Thorsteinn Erlingsson, a fishing vessel owner in Reykjanesbaer, and it resonated with him. Sudurnes Energy organized the project and Reykjanesbaer will promote it,” Johnsen told Morgunbladid.
“It is very exciting because Eldey, which is one of Iceland’s natural gems, is no longer lost and hidden. Now people have the opportunity to watch the island and the birdlife there, which will hopefully encourage others to establish webcams in different parts of the country,” Johnsen said.
Live feed from the webcam can soon be viewed on the website of Sudurnes Energy (HS) and Reykjanesbaer municipality.
The camera was designed by electronic engineer Sigurdur Hardarson. It a five mega-pixel IQ525 camera, which Hardarson altered so it could better serve its purpose. It runs off solar energy.
