Icelandic sheep ready for réttir

© Pieter Tytgat/Getty Image

Homeward bound. Ready for réttir

Every September in Iceland brings the arrival of réttir, the annual sheep roundup. After spending the spring and summer grazing on the hills and in the meadows of the Icelandic countryside, all 800,000 of the nation's sheep are brought home to their 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 owners. When the work is done, everyone celebrates with music, dancing, drinks and food. Bringing them all in is no easy task: There are twice as many sheep in Iceland as there are people.