Holidaymakers travelling to Iceland are likely to see the best Northern Lights display in years thanks to the solar max period, but the aurora isn't the only natural phenomenon to grace the Nordic island nation this winter.

During a talk at Stanfords' Covent Garden store on Wednesday, Cetacean expert and Discover The World tour guide Alexa Kershaw explained the intricacies and quirks of Iceland's abundant killer whale population.

"Whales are found in all the world's oceans, and about a quarter of the world's species are found in the waters around Iceland and the UK," Ms Kershaw said.

"The reason for Iceland's abundant killer whale population is the warm waters of the gulf stream mixing with the cooler coastal currents, which means more plankton and fish.

"The Icelandic killer whales feed on herring and historically during the winter months were seen on the east coast of More...

A long-dormant volcano has erupted in Iceland. The volcano, near Eyjafjallajoekull glacier in the south of the country has been dormant for 200 years, and its eruption has ripped a 1km-long fissure in a field of ice.

With lava soaring hundred metres high, Icelandic airspace has been closed, flights diverted and roads closed. A state of emergency is in force in southern Iceland and about 500 people were moved from the area. More...

I can't recall London's weather conditions in February with any greater clarity than I could describe my prevailing mental state, but suffice it to say things were cold, damp and grey as usual and thus not very interesting - and the weather was little better. However, I had a solution.

My perverse logic told me that if I were to go somewhere where the weather was more severe, conditions might not seem so uncomfortable More...