Icelandic sheep ready for réttir, Iceland

© Pieter Tytgat/Getty Image

Homeward bound

Every September in Iceland brings the arrival of réttir, the annual sheep round-up. After spending the spring and summer grazing in the hills and meadows of the Icelandic countryside, all 800,000 of the nation's sheep are brought home to their respective ranches to avoid the harsh winter weather. The effort is hard work, with ranchers and Icelandic sheepdogs working to bring the sheep in, and then sort them so they go back to their respective owners. When the work is all done, everyone typically celebrates with music, dancing, drinks, and food. In the past, the event has attracted tourists interested in seeing this collaborative effort in action. If watching sheep herding sounds dull, know this: There are twice as many sheep in Iceland as there are people.