Reykjavik Iceland duck pond Tjörnin Pond in Reykjavik
The Reykjavik City Pond, locally known as Tjörnin, is one of Iceland's most beloved and iconic inner-city features. How did this beautiful body of water come to exist in central downtown and why do locals refer to it as "The Biggest Bread Soup in the World?"
The lake is frequented by between 40 and 50 species of water birds, including the Arctic tern, the Eider, the Gadwall, the Greylag goose and other species of goose, the Mallard, several species of seagulls, and the scaup.[8][9] Whooper swan are viewable within close proximity.[10] The Arctic tern’s arrival heralds the start of summer.[11] Birders from all over the North Atlantic come to pursue their hobby in the lake area. The lake is also a favorite place to take young children to watch and feed birds.[6] The popularity of bird feeding has led to the lake being poetically referred to as "the biggest bread soup in the world" (stærsta brauðsúpa í heimi).[12] Lately, however, preying seagulls have caused the City Council to issue warnings to residents, asking them to refrain from feeding the ducks in Tjörnin to avoid putting ducklings at risk.[13]
