The Melrakkasletta Peninsula
The Melrakkaslétta peninsula is a remote place in the far north-east of Iceland, often overlooked by tourists, who generally prefer taking the trusty Road number 1 from Myvatn to the Eastern Fjords.
Located north of Asbyrgi, you'll have to take Road 85 to get around the peninsula, a fairly good road that alternates between asphalt and dirt but in fairly good condition. Hraunhafnartangi is the northernmost tip of Iceland (excluding Grimsey, but that's an island) and its lighthouse is located less than 3 km from the Arctic Circle.
Melrakkasletta: Wildlife and the Midnight Sun
This region is ideal to watch the midnight sun from mid-June to mid-July thanks to its latitude and the magnificent cliffs that border its coasts. Skipavik, Rifstangi, Hraunhafnartangi, Rakkanes... these fantastical names make for so many perfect viewpoints to observe this unique solar phenomenon.
Another very good spot to admire the midnight sun after a stroll by the sea is undoubtedly Rauðinúpur. Take Road 85 until you reach the intersection located a few kilometers north of Sandvik, and look for the sign indicated Nupskatla. After 8 km of dirt road, you will reach the Rauðinúpur farm.
Once parked you can enjoy a very pleasant 30-40 minute hiking trail along the coast to reach the promontory with a line of sight on the local birdlife, hundreds of gassans and fulmars.
The black and red bedrock of the promontory testify to its volcanic origin. Detailed information available here:
It is one of the few places in Iceland that is home to the gannet species, and in good weather with the sounds of birds perched on the promontory and the midnight sun in the background, it truly is magical.
This is the perfect place to meet an Arctic fox, though they can be shy and fleeting, but the numerous Arctic terns on the way are much more vocal about their place in the world.
The path along the coast is rocky and treacherous with pebbles, so there is another option to get around this. Stay on Road 85 to the Langanes peninsula and its famous Stóri Karl, where numerous gannets are known to perch.
