Melrakkasetur Íslands

Over het museum

Melrakkasetur Íslands (Arctic Fox Centre of Iceland) was founded on 15 September 2007 as a non-profit association with 42 founding members, mainly local residents, tourism operators and municipalities in the Westfjords. The idea came from Páll Hersteinsson, professor at the University of Iceland, and Ester Rut Unnsteinsdóttir, who had studied the arctic fox together on Hornstrandir since 1998. They wanted to secure ongoing research and to educate the public about the species, which had a negative image. The long-term goal is to collect all available knowledge and data on the arctic fox.

The centre is housed in Eyrardalsbær, the oldest house in Súðavík. Jón Guðmundsson built it in 1896 on a Norwegian model, from timber from the Norwegian whaling station in Álftafjörður, where he was the manager. In the 17th century, Jón Ólafsson Indíafari lived in the valley. The house stood empty from 1968 and fell into disrepair until the municipality of Súðavík donated it to the centre and paid for its reconstruction, which took about three years. The centre was officially opened on 12 June 2010.

The exhibition covers the biology and way of life of the arctic fox, more than eleven centuries of conflict between people and foxes, fox hunting, which were the oldest paid jobs in the country, and fox farming and its impact on the wild population. In summer, the centre monitors the arctic fox population on Hornstrandir and receives captured animals for measurement. A tame arctic fox also lives in the house and introduces the species to visitors.

Hoogtepunten

• The only exhibition in the world devoted to the Icelandic arctic fox
• A live arctic fox that introduces visitors to the species
• The history of fox hunting and the conflict between people and foxes over 1,100 years
• Eyrardalsbær, the oldest house in Súðavík, from 1896
• Research on the arctic fox population on Hornstrandir

Vaste collectie

• Sýningin um melrakkann – Exhibition on the biology and way of life of the arctic fox, the relationship between people and foxes through the centuries, fox hunting, fox farming, and the status of the species in Iceland and beyond.

Opgericht

2007

Beheerder

Melrakkasetur Íslands (félag án hagnaðarsjónarmiða)

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

Toegankelijkheid

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Kinderen & gezin

The live arctic fox on site appeals to visitors of all ages.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

Service & horeca

• Café

A café is run in the house during the summer.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.