Stone heart of the fjord: how the actor from "Free Willy" found eternal peace (8 photos)
This stone mound is a memorial to the most famous killer whale in history. 
The pile of stones is more than just a grave. It is a monument to a whale who has become a symbol of hope for all marine animals in captivity.
From Fame to Freedom 
Keiko, who played Willy in the cult Free Willy franchise, lived an amazing and tragic life: 
was born in 1977, was caught off the coast of Iceland at the age of 2 and sold to an aquarium in the Icelandic city Hafnarfjordur;
suffered in cramped pools, became covered in ulcers - these are typical professional diseases of circus killer whales;
after the resounding success of the film, millions of viewers raised money to save him.
The Road Home That Never Happened 
Keiko died on December 12, 2003, probably from pneumonia, in Taknes Bay in the town of Halsa, Norway
In a specially built pool in Oregon, the 8-ton giant gained a whole ton of weight! But when, after a long preparation, he was released into the ocean:
Keiko swam away during a training swim;
Unfortunately, he could not adapt to life in the wild – years in captivity were stronger than his instincts;
Keiko died of pneumonia in 2003 in a Norwegian fjord, where he swam to people for help.
A Living Monument 
The locals buried him according to an ancient tradition – by building a cairn (stone pyramid). Now each visitor adds their own stone. The stones have been “growing” for over 20 years. 
The waves of the fjord whisper the story of a whale who never became truly free, but thanks to the film the whole world learned about him. The story of the whale made millions of people think about the price of captivity. 
