Atlantic Puffins at Látrabjarg

At Iceland’s westernmost point, Látrabjarg forms a 8.7-mile (14-kilometer) line of sea cliffs rising to 1,447 feet (441 meters). Its turf-covered upper slopes and rock crevices support breeding colonies of Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) and other seabirds.

Atlantic puffins are North Atlantic auks. They spend most of the nonbreeding year at sea and return to coastal colonies during spring and summer. Puffins generally nest in burrows excavated in turf or in natural crevices. Their compact wings provide rapid flight above the water and propulsion beneath it as they pursue small fish.

Current Context

Látrabjarg was designated a 37-square-kilometer nature reserve in March 2021 to protect its ecosystem, seabird habitats, landscape, and cultural remains. Iceland’s 2025 Red List classifies the country’s Atlantic puffin breeding population as Critically Endangered. Globally, the species is classified as Vulnerable.