Following the Foss

So, due to the large amount of photos taken during my 1 week trip to Iceland, and all the interesting facts and info about some of the most amazing locations, I've decided to unearth my old travelling blog, partly for me to relive all the awesomeness of the country, partly for anyone who's bored and wants something to read/look at


So, its not so much in chronological order of day 1-7, as order of specific sites. Post one is all about the Foss (waterfalls) as they are stunning, and may peak your interest enough to read the rest of the posts 


So, here are the waterfalls I visited, and some stories behind them




Gullfoss

Golden Waterfall

Located in the Canyon of the Hvítá River in Southwest Iceland

Cascades in 2 stages, one 11m and the other 21m

During the Early 20th Century, Foreign investors who rented the waterfall from the Owners of the Land wanted to build a hydroelectric power plant. The daughter of the Owner, love the waterfall so much, and protested to the point that she declared that if the plans went through she would through herself into the waterfall itself. She made may journeys to Reykjavik on foot (120 km or 74.5 miles one way)

Luckily for her and us, the power plant never went ahead and we get to visit and photograph this stunning place

The Sound is just incredible, Apologies for no Videos, you'll just have to go and visit it yourself



Selijalandfoss

Comes from a melting Volcano Glacier Eyjafjallajökull

65m high


And the really fun part is that there is a cave behind the falls that you can walk into and see the waterfall from behind. Yes you will get wet, but no, you will not mind!

A slightly smaller set of falls are just a few meters away, you can actually walk into the little cave, photos from myself from the outside only as I wasn't coordinated enough to navigate the slippery rocks with my Camera

Skógafoss

60m High and 25m Wide

A Staircase that leads you to the top and gives a very good balance/cardio workout

Legend states that there is a chest filled with gold behind the falls, but no easy access cave to allow you to look...


Still worth a visit all the same, and another place where you will get drenched, but be happy to be so

Please excuse the blurry edges... waterfalls and lenses don't mix to well!


Svartifoss

The Black Waterfall

Can anyone guess why?

Located in the Vatnajökull National Park


Falls from a height of 20m

Not only did we get to see this stunning waterfall, but had a nice wee hike either side

What more could a girl ask for


Remained dry with this one, your not supposed to get so close, although people are very good at pretending they don't see the signs, which were in picture form, so the fact that very few people speak the local language should not have been used as an Excuse

I also got shouted at by an angry American for daring to sit and watch the falls when he was trying to take a photo. How inconsiderate of me!!

Dettifoss

The Beast!! (not really, but you should hear and see it)

The most powerful Waterfall in Iceland (and Europe apparently)

44m high and 100m wide!!

Located on the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river which flows from the Vatnajökull  glacier in Northeast Iceland


Provider of rainbows and stunning scenery 

Goðafoss

Guess the meaning...yes, your right, known as Waterfall of the Gods

And the story behind is not only interesting, but really funny if your a fan of the Film El Dorado

12m high and 30m Wide, Located in North Iceland


In the year 999 Christianity was the official religion of Iceland. The Lawspeaker  Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði threw all of his Norse God statues into the falls, hence the name Goðafoss

No a bad spot at all


Hraunfossar (and then Barnafossar)


Last but not least

Huranfossar (the lava falls) is a waterfall made up of lots of little falls that look like they are coming right out of the Lava, streaming out of a distance of about 900m. Caused by the eruption of a Volcano under the glacier 

Located in Western Iceland 

Pretty Cool

And Sadly, our last Foss (sad due to the fact it was the last and the story behind it)



Barnafossar, Waterfall of the Children

The story goes, many years ago, on Christmas Day two children went missing and fell from the natural stone bridge into the falls to their death. Their Mother, consumed by grief destroyed the bridge, and that's how the falls got their name


A cheery Christmas tale (not told to children at Christmas luckily, but more about Iceland's 13 mean Santa's later)



So I hope you've enjoyed my rambling and photos, Next post will be a story and Beaches and Ice...




Thanks for Reading :)