Sheep of Iceland

Across Iceland, sheep appear in some of the country’s most remote and dramatic landscapes—scattered across mountainsides, wandering through lava fields, and grazing in open valleys far from the nearest farm.

Descended from sheep brought to Iceland by Norse settlers more than a thousand years ago, Icelandic sheep have developed into a remarkably hardy breed, well suited to the island’s rugged terrain and unpredictable weather. Each summer, flocks are allowed to roam freely across the countryside before being gathered again in the fall. To date, there are roughly 3 sheep for every person in Iceland.

Sheep of Iceland is a collection of those encounters–portraits and passing moments that capture an animal so deeply woven into the landscape, history, and rural character of Iceland.