The first reindeer came to Iceland during the years 1771-1787 from Northern Norway, in the same area where St Nicholas is rumored to have his toy shop.

Sadly, the harsh weather and lack of food made it difficult to for them to survive, so many died.

By 1939, it was believed the reindeer may have reached extinction, until around 100 of them were found in East Iceland, which is where many of them make their home today. You can sometimes see them around the town Vopnafjörður and also at the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.

Both female and male reindeer grow antlers!

Their fave food is lichen. They eat whatever is easiest to find under the snow in winter.

Reindeer are hunted in Iceland, but only during hunting season and only with a permit.

The reindeer are doing so much better these days, there are now 6,000 to 7,000 reindeer in Iceland!

Photograph by Rudolf Kirchner