National Geographic Explorer visited the tiny, isolated village of Djúpavik for the first time ever. After traversing the choppy waters of the “deep bay,” after which the community is named, we spent the morning exploring the village and its surroundings. While some brave hikers climbed the cliffs overlooking the decrepit herring factory that was once the economic engine of the region, most of us took a more leisurely guided tour through the historic ruins. For a short time after its construction in 1935, the herring factory was one of the largest concrete structures in Europe and a major producer of fish oil and meal. Today, Djúpavik is the least-populated municipality in Iceland with just 53 full-time residents.