Skógafoss
Skógafoss is one of the most popular tourist destinations along the south coast in Iceland. Skógafoss is a waterfall situated on the Skógá River in the South of Iceland at the cliffs of the former coastline. The waterfall is one of the biggest waterfalls in the country with a width of 25 m (82 ft) and a drop of 60 m (200 ft).
Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow is normally visible on sunny days.
The black beaches you see at the foot of the waterfall is ash and sand. The cliffs the waterfalls drops down from are the reminders of the former coastline of Iceland and is the boarder between the highlands of Iceland and the coast.
At the eastern side of the waterfall, a hiking and trekking trail leads up to the pass Fimmvörðuháls, which is one of Icelands most popular hiking track. The stairs will lead you all the way up to the top. The stairs can be a little bit heavy but if you make it to the top the view from there is breathtaking and totally worth all the stairs.
Once you are up there take your time to take in the view and admire the waterfall. If you have more time we recommend you to keep on walking the trail a bit further uphill as you will discover more beautiful waterfalls along the way and the view will be even better the higher up you get.
There is also a camp site at the foot of the waterfall so if you want to stay the night and have a beautiful view from your tent when you wake up this is the perfect place.
According to legend, the first Viking settler in the area, Þrasi Þórólfsson, buried a treasure in a cave behind the waterfall. The legend continues that locals found the chest years later, but were only able to grasp the ring on the side of the chest before it disappeared again. The ring was allegedly given to the local church. The old church door ring is now in a museum, though whether it gives any credence to the folklore is debatable.
Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow is normally visible on sunny days.
The black beaches you see at the foot of the waterfall is ash and sand. The cliffs the waterfalls drops down from are the reminders of the former coastline of Iceland and is the boarder between the highlands of Iceland and the coast.
At the eastern side of the waterfall, a hiking and trekking trail leads up to the pass Fimmvörðuháls, which is one of Icelands most popular hiking track. The stairs will lead you all the way up to the top. The stairs can be a little bit heavy but if you make it to the top the view from there is breathtaking and totally worth all the stairs.
Once you are up there take your time to take in the view and admire the waterfall. If you have more time we recommend you to keep on walking the trail a bit further uphill as you will discover more beautiful waterfalls along the way and the view will be even better the higher up you get.
There is also a camp site at the foot of the waterfall so if you want to stay the night and have a beautiful view from your tent when you wake up this is the perfect place.
According to legend, the first Viking settler in the area, Þrasi Þórólfsson, buried a treasure in a cave behind the waterfall. The legend continues that locals found the chest years later, but were only able to grasp the ring on the side of the chest before it disappeared again. The ring was allegedly given to the local church. The old church door ring is now in a museum, though whether it gives any credence to the folklore is debatable.