May the Foss Be With You!

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Situated in the south of Iceland where the coastal lowlands run parallel and are clearly delineated from the Highlands of Iceland, you will find this waterfall named Skógafoss.
This is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland which spans 25m with a drop of 60m that runs off the top of an eroded cliff.
Due to the amount of spray that is consistently produced, a single & sometimes even a double rainbow is visible on sunny days. We are rewarded here with this magical spectacle!
On this eastern side of the waterfall is a hiking & trekking trail that leads up to the pass Fimmvörđuháls between two glaciers, namely the Eyjafjallajökull & Mýrdalsjökull. This area was greatly affected by the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull Volcano when an ash plume covered large areas of Northern Europe disrupting air travel across western & northern Europe for 6 days in April 2010.
Wildflowers & the Dandelions are flourishing under the summery skies & it makes hiking a lot more cheery, to be greeted by floral intermittently.
At the top of the cliff, we see the rushing waters of the Skógar River accelerating & pushing onwards.
And as if in one big frenzy, the waters gather velocity….
…before plunging vertically some 60m to the ground below where a natural pool is formed.
Viewing from the top, you can hear the thunderous roar of the rushing & cascading water, with an occasional refreshing spray when the winds are blowing in your direction.
Down below the Skógar River continues to flow out to the North Atlantic Sea.
We did not do a full hike but just the steep climb to the top of the cliff & as you can see the view is breathtaking. You can see the sea in the distance and this sheep farm at the foot of the mountain.

According to legend, a treasure chest full of gold was buried in a cave behind the waterfall before the death of the first Viking settler Prasi Pórólfsson who arrived in Iceland around 900 AD.

It was then found years later by the locals who made many attempts to drag the chest from under the fall. On one occasion a rope was fixed to a ring at the end of the chest but it broke off & the chest disappeared in the abyss.

The Prasi Ring then became the door ring of Skógar Church until 1890 & is today housed at the Museum of Skógar.

Published by Sandra Quah

Into Travelling, Photography & Music

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