Iceland is well regarded as a country that does things in a larger-than-life manner. And in the case of one recent opening, they’re looking to double down on that assessment. Even if that move comes with some controversy.

The Whales Of Iceland is a giant museum dedicated solely to the enormous sea mammal. It is located at Fiskisloo, a popular point in Reykjavik’s harbor, not too far from the center of the capital city itself. The museum is also in close proximity to other piers where whale watching tours constantly depart from. Billed on their website as ‘a giant experience’, the museum is currently the largest exhibition for whales throughout the European Union.

Once inside, visitors are greeted by a truly gigantic sight: full-scale models of whales, made from steel, foam and other materials to be as lifelike as possible. All twenty-three whale replicas are representative of the species of whale found in the waters off Iceland, like humpbacks, beluga and even orcas for instance.

Families are highly encouraged to visit, with a special group rate added to sweeten the deal. Normal admission is set at $US25 for adults and children from 7 to fifteen can get in for $US13. Whales Of Iceland also contains exhibits that depict how integral whales are to the country’s history and growth over hundreds of years. Guests can also enjoy the distinct experience of dining in the cafe beneath the sizable width of a blue whale. The museum also offers visitors the opportunity to book passage on whale watching tours in their lobby.

Whales of Iceland has been operational in some part since February of last year, but they’ve just recently begun to gain notice on a global scale. The museum came about thanks to the efforts of an entrepreneur, Horour Bender, who joined forces with the Landsbref-Icelandic Tourism Fund to create a modernistic exhibition that fully detailed the importance of whales and their lives to the people of Iceland and other visitors.

This was a new hallmark of conservation efforts within the country; Iceland has gotten a great deal of scorn and scrutiny since it still hunts whales openly in spite of an international ban on the practice. Thus, Whales Of Iceland has gotten a boost from many citizens who are opposed to the slaughter of the graceful animals, in addition to backing from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation(WDC) group, a charity dedicated to the preservation of the sea creatures. Their goal is to further encourage opposition to whale hunting and its by-products such as the marketing of whale meat as tourist delicacies. Whales of Iceland looks to be a massive experience for animal lovers and all other travelers who love anything related to the ocean.

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