Rhodope Mountains, Westman Islands, Iberian… Share this: Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) ...

The Westman Islands, locally known as Vestmannaeyjar, are a group of islands off the southern coast of Iceland. Like their better known neighboring island, Brands Search. Close.

Elephant rock is in the the Westman Islands, an archipelago off the southern coast of Iceland. Diego Delso [CC BY-SA 4.0]/Wikimedia.

Throwing thousands of baby puffins off a cliff is a yearly tradition for the people of Iceland's Westman Islands. It's part of what's known as "puffling season" and is a crucial life-saving endeavor.

The islands are home to the world's largest puffin colony. At certain times of the year, the skies are filled with puffins carrying fish to their chicks. Puffins in Iceland in 1976.