Visiting Iceland: Northern Lights and Waterfalls
When visiting Iceland, Northern Lights viewing is most people's primary purpose, but the spectacular geological landscape of the volcanic country will also enthral and excite visitors. One of the most dynamic features of that landscape is its waterfalls - of which there are many. Gullfoss is the most visited, and well worth its fame, while Hifoss, Seljalandsfoss and Skgafoss display the range and beauty of waterfalls in Iceland. Northern Lights viewing at the end of a day spent exploring the spectacular landscape is one of the finer ways to enjoy this truly fascinating country.
Gullfoss
As part of the Golden Circle tour, Gullfoss is the most visited waterfall in Iceland. Northern Lights, Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon comprise a typical itinerary, especially for first-time visitors. This fame is well deserved, as Gullfoss is a spectacular wide waterfall formed by an abrupt turn of the Hvt River as it plunges into a canyon. In winter it can partially or fully freeze, which is a stunning sight. Plans to use the waterfall for hydropower were opposed, including by a notable woman called Sigr°ur Tmasdttir, and now the waterfall is protected. Although Sigr°ur's decisive role is more folklore than fact, her efforts are commemorated in a memorial at the falls.
Hifoss
The area around the volcano Mount Hekla is a striking, beautiful landscape with myriad waterfalls. One of these is Hifoss, whose name €" €high falls' €" signifies its most important quality: the Foss River plummets a remarkable 122 metres. A tour can include Hifoss on a trip to the sights of the Golden Circle, then finish the day with the most important reason to visit Iceland: Northern Lights viewing.
Seljalandsfoss
Heading out into the wilderness, the area of Thrsm¶rk awaits. Here visitors can see a high mountain ridge and the three glaciers of Eyjafjallaj¶kull, Mrdalsj¶kull and Tindfjallaj¶kull, and drive through their glacial rivers in four-by-fours. Changes to the landscape after the eruption of Eyjafjallaj¶kull are clearly visible. The presence of mountains and water undoubtedly means waterfalls, and this includes the stunning Seljalandsfoss, near the sea. It is possible to walk behind this majestic waterfall and look out at the landscape through the water. In winter the snow and waterfall ice freeze the surrounding ground, creating beautiful scenes of falling water and frozen leafless plants. There is another important reason to visit Thrsm¶rk while in Iceland: Northern Lights viewing is particularly good there. The effect of the glaciated mountain ridges on the local climate keeps the sky clearer than in other areas, increasing the chances of seeing the aurora borealis.
Skgafoss
Another waterfall in the vicinity of Thrsm¶rk and the south coast of the country is Skgafoss - at 60 metres high, its waters fall like thunder. Several local legends surround this waterfall. The first is inspired by a rock nearby that, if viewed from a certain angle when approaching the falls, looks like a giant in profile. The second is that a Viking settler, Thrasi Thrlfsson, buried treasure behind the waterfall, which local people searched for years later; however, they grasped only the ring of the treasure box before it disappeared again. That ring adorned the door of a church and is now displayed in a museum.
Gullfoss
As part of the Golden Circle tour, Gullfoss is the most visited waterfall in Iceland. Northern Lights, Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon comprise a typical itinerary, especially for first-time visitors. This fame is well deserved, as Gullfoss is a spectacular wide waterfall formed by an abrupt turn of the Hvt River as it plunges into a canyon. In winter it can partially or fully freeze, which is a stunning sight. Plans to use the waterfall for hydropower were opposed, including by a notable woman called Sigr°ur Tmasdttir, and now the waterfall is protected. Although Sigr°ur's decisive role is more folklore than fact, her efforts are commemorated in a memorial at the falls.
Hifoss
The area around the volcano Mount Hekla is a striking, beautiful landscape with myriad waterfalls. One of these is Hifoss, whose name €" €high falls' €" signifies its most important quality: the Foss River plummets a remarkable 122 metres. A tour can include Hifoss on a trip to the sights of the Golden Circle, then finish the day with the most important reason to visit Iceland: Northern Lights viewing.
Seljalandsfoss
Heading out into the wilderness, the area of Thrsm¶rk awaits. Here visitors can see a high mountain ridge and the three glaciers of Eyjafjallaj¶kull, Mrdalsj¶kull and Tindfjallaj¶kull, and drive through their glacial rivers in four-by-fours. Changes to the landscape after the eruption of Eyjafjallaj¶kull are clearly visible. The presence of mountains and water undoubtedly means waterfalls, and this includes the stunning Seljalandsfoss, near the sea. It is possible to walk behind this majestic waterfall and look out at the landscape through the water. In winter the snow and waterfall ice freeze the surrounding ground, creating beautiful scenes of falling water and frozen leafless plants. There is another important reason to visit Thrsm¶rk while in Iceland: Northern Lights viewing is particularly good there. The effect of the glaciated mountain ridges on the local climate keeps the sky clearer than in other areas, increasing the chances of seeing the aurora borealis.
Skgafoss
Another waterfall in the vicinity of Thrsm¶rk and the south coast of the country is Skgafoss - at 60 metres high, its waters fall like thunder. Several local legends surround this waterfall. The first is inspired by a rock nearby that, if viewed from a certain angle when approaching the falls, looks like a giant in profile. The second is that a Viking settler, Thrasi Thrlfsson, buried treasure behind the waterfall, which local people searched for years later; however, they grasped only the ring of the treasure box before it disappeared again. That ring adorned the door of a church and is now displayed in a museum.
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