it is truly a
giant experience
The exhibition consists of 23 man-made life size models of the various whale species found in Icelandic waters throughout its natural history
A 25 m. (82 ft.) long blue whale, a full size sperm whale, the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale and many more! See them all in their actual size!
In cooperation with the Marine Research Institute of Iceland, Whales of Iceland exhibition is not only an adventure for the whole family; it's also an information center about the whales in the North Atlantic
23
real size
whales exhibiton
Our WHALES
BELUGA
WEIGHT
1-2 tons
LENGTH
3-6 m
LIFE SPAN
25-30 years
NECK
Has the unusual ability to turn its head up,
down and side-to-side.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
narwhal
WEIGHT
1 - 2 tons
LENGTH
3 -5 m
LIFE SPAN
≈ 52 years
real life unicorn
The males sport a 2-3 m spiral tusk
(as do some females).
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
Harbour Porpoise
WEIGHT
60 kg
LENGTH
1.5 m
LIFE SPAN
10-20 years
little one
The smallest marine mammal in Iceland.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
white-beaked dolphin
WEIGHT
180-350 kg
LENGTH
2 -3 m
LIFE SPAN
≈ 40-50 years
SPEED
Can reach up to 25 mph.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
atlantic white-sided dolphin
Male – weight and length
230 kg & 2.5 m
Female – weight and length
180 kg & 2 m
LIFE SPAN
≈ 27 years
Social behavior
Shows sympathy towards
an injured individual.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN
MALE – WEIGHT & LENGHT
120 kg & 2.3 m
Female – weight and length
135 kg & 2.6 m
LIFE SPAN
≈ 30-35 years
population in the N-Atlantic
400,000 individuals.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
COMMON BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN
Male – weight and length
300-500 kg & 4 m
Female – weight and length
260-300 kg & 2.5-3.5 m
LIFE SPAN
≈ 40-50 years
individual names?
Each individual has a
special call sound.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
STRIPED DOLPHIN
WEIGHT
150-165 kg
LENGTH
2-2,5 m
LIFE SPAN
≈ 58 years
POPULATION size
2.8 million individuals in the Pacific.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
KILLER WHALE / ORCA
Male – weight and length
10 tons & 10 m
Female – weight and length
7 tons & 8 m
life span MALE / FEMALE
60 years / 90 years
social structure
The grandmother
leads the pod.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
LONG FINNED PILOT WHALE
Female – weight and length
1.3 tons - 5.8 m
Male – weight and length
2.3 tons - 7.6 m
life span FEMALE / MALE
59 years / 46 years
diet
Feeds on squid.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
NORTHERN BOTTLENOSE whale
Female – weight and length
5.8 tons & 7.5 m
Male – weight and length
7.8 tons & 9 m
life span FEMALE / MALE
27 years /37 years
pods
2-4 animals of
the same age &
sex live together.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
CUVIER'S BEAKED WHALE
WEIGHT
2.5 tons
LENGTH
5 m
LIFE SPAN
≈ 30-40 years
diving & swimming
Can dive to a depth of 3,000m
and can hold its breath for 140 min.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
BLAINVILLE'S BEAKED WHALE
weight
1 ton
LENGTH
3-5 m
LIFE SPAN
≈ 20-30 years
DIVING & SWIMMING
After deep diving the whale rests on the surface
up to 90 min. before diving again.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
SOWERBY'S BEAKED WHALE
WEIGHT
1 - 1.5 tons
LENGTH
4 - 6 m
LIFE SPAN
Unknown
diet
Sucks food into mouth,
mostly small deep sea fish, 4-30 cm long.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
SPERM WHALE
Male – weight and length
45 tons & 16 m
Female – weight and length
13 tons & 11 m
LIFE SPAN
≈ 60-70 years
sperm whales & iceland
Only old or immature
males are found
around Iceland.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
BOWHEAD WHALE
Female – weight and length
70-100 tons & 19 m
Male – weight and length
70-100 tons & 17 m
LIFE SPAN
≈ 130-211 years
grandpa
Probably the most
long-lived whale.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
NORTH-ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE
WEIGHT
44 - 77 tons
LENGTH
13 - 16 m
LIFE SPAN
70 years+
name
The name "right whale" indicated
the right whale to hunt.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
GRAY WHALE
WEIGHT
45 tons
LENGTH
15 m
LIFE SPAN
80 years +
long distance miigration
The gray whale travels 20,000 km each year!
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
HUMPBACK WHALE
Female – weight and length
40 tons & 18 m
Male – weight and length
40 tons & 16 m
LIFE SPAN
50 years +
"fingerprint"
Each individual can be
recognized by its unique
fluke pattern.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
BLUE WHALE
Female – weight and length
190 tons & 33 m
Male – weight and length
160 tons & 28 m
LIFE SPAN
90 years
Giant
The largest animal that has
ever existed!
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
MINKE WHALE
Female – weight and length
7 tons & 8.5 m
Male – weight and length
5.7 tons & 7.5 m
LIFE SPAN
40-50 years
IDENTITY
White stripe on flippers
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
SEI WHALE
Female – weight and length
20-40 tons & 14-19 m
Male – weight and length
20-30 tons & 13-15 m
LIFE SPAN
≈ 60 years
speed
Can reach up to 25 mph.
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
FIN WHALE
Female – weight and length
75 tons & 23 m
Male – weight and length
62 tons & 21 m
LIFE SPAN
≈ 90 years
speed
The fastest swimmer
– reaches up to 28 mph!
23
LIFE-SIZE WHALE MODELS
beluga
narwhal
HArBOUR PORPOISE
WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHIN
ATLANTIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN
SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN
COMMON BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN
STRIPED DOLPHIN
KILLER WHALE / ORCA
LONG FINNED PILOT WHALE
NORTHERN BOTTLENOSE whale
CUVIER'S BEAKED WHALE
BLAINVILLE'S BEAKED WHALE
SOWERBY'S BEAKED WHALE
SPERM WHALE
BOWHEAD WHALE
NORTH-ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE
GRAY WHALE
HUMPBACK WHALE
BLUE WHALE
MINKE WHALE
SEI WHALE
FIN WHALE
#whalesoficeland
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OPENING HOURS
The museum is open daily all year round
(closed on 25th December)
10:00 - 17:00
Fiskislóð 23-25 – Reykjavík 101
(+354) 571 0077
ADMISSION PRICE
Adults
3900 ISK
Children 7 - 15 years
1950 ISK
Families (2 adults and 2 children)
7800 ISK
Children 0 - 6 years
Free
