Skógafoss: The Waterfall for all Seasons
Iceland is a nation of natural beauty and spots where pure water cascades from above, are marvels of nature to be enjoyed by all those who are poets at heart. The Skógafoss is a waterfall located on the Skógá river, at the cliffs of the former coastline, in the southern part of the country. It is 5 km from the habitat of Skógar. When the waters receded, the former sea cliffs remained. These cliffs run parallel to the coast for hundreds of kms creating a clear divide between coastal lowlands and highlands.
Undoubtedly the Skógafoss, is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland, with a width of 82 ft and a sheer drop of 200 ft. Tourists visit the falls, during winter, spring and summer and the experience is vastly different during each of the seasons. The quantum of the Skógá waters that run are really phenomenal and due to the amount of water being sprayed continuously, it produces a single or a double multi-colored rainbow on days when the sun is shining.
One can actually hear the rumble of water gushing under the ice. There is a narrow path that leads the gazer to another waterfall which is hidden. At the waterfall there 3 view points. The first one is being close to the ground. With raincoats on, one can get as close as possible and get wet by the sprays. The second one is way up where the sides are covered with moss and the final one is right on top. Each view is spectacular. If one hikes up further one can see smaller waterfalls and rapids. The trail at the eastern side of the waterfall leads up to the pass Fimmvorouhals between the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Myrdalsjökull. The trail goes further down to Borsmörk and continues to Landmannlaugar.
Skógafoss Waterfall has its share of mythology too. According to the legend, which each Icelander holds steady, the first Viking settler in the area Þrasi Þórólfsson had buried a chest filled with treasures behind the waterfall in a cave. It is said that later on locals in the area found the treasure and could only grasp its side ring before it disappeared before their eyes. The Ring was given to the local church and now the old church ring finds it proud place in a museum.
Skógafoss has had its show business glory too and was the setting for Sólstafir’s 2012 music video Fjara, which was part of their album Svartir Sandar. The blockbuster movie “Thor: The Dark World” and another film titled “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” were filmed on the location. After viewing the sights, tourists can head towards the restaurant and have delicious Icelandic soup and other delicacies and then buy souvenirs for their near and dear ones.
