Situated close to the small village of Skógar, Skógafoss is without doubt one of the largest and most well-known waterfalls in Iceland, reachable from Reykjavik in beneath two hours and simply seen from Iceland’s Route 1 ring street. The falls are 25 metres huge, and with a drop of 62 metres, is the fifth highest waterfall in Iceland. The title Skógafoss actually means ‘forest waterfall’, reminding us that this space was as soon as coated in timber.
Skógafoss has featured in quite a few music movies in addition to the Marvel Studios movie Thor: The Darkish World in addition to in Season 8 of Sport of Thrones. In The Secret Lifetime of Walter Mitty, Skógafoss was used within the footage on his strategy to the Himalayas, regardless of it’s true location being in Iceland.
On the jap facet of the waterfall, there’s a path that results in a staircase with nearly 500 steps and that, in flip, results in an statement platform simply above the cascade. The stroll up is manageable for most individuals with a reasonable degree of health, even should you select to have the occasional breather, and price it for the views. Look out for nesting seabirds in your approach up, in addition to the northern fulmars that patrol the skies.
This path additionally marks the beginning (or end) of a well-liked mountaineering route often known as the Fimmvörðuháls Cross. This path is 22 kilometres lengthy, accessible solely within the Summer season. Even should you simply enterprise a brief approach alongside it and switch again, you will note plenty of further waterfalls. If strolling the whole route from Skógafoss, the route takes you alongside the Skógá River, between Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull (each of which feed the river with meltwater), earlier than ending on the stunning Þórsmörk valley.
At Skógafoss, the Skógá River cascades over a cliff which might have as soon as been Iceland’s south coast. This former sea cliff runs parallel to the current day shoreline for a whole lot of kilometres, creating a transparent distinction between the coastal lowlands and the Highlands of Iceland.
From the highest, you cannot solely benefit from the super energy of this wonderful waterfall, but additionally admire views in direction of the Atlantic Ocean.
The river under the falls is widespread with fishermen as a result of it holds a big salmon and char poplation. The numbers had fallen after the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010 however are actually stated to be thriving once more.
Again at floor degree, you may stroll as near this staggeringly stunning waterfall as you care to go, however beware… there may be loads of spray and also you’re prone to get soaked! When you have a rain cowl on your digicam, then by all means carry it.
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Legend has it that the primary Viking settler within the space, Þrasi Þórólfsson, apparently a large, buried treasure in a cave behind the waterfall earlier than his loss of life in 900 AD. A younger native man apparently discovered the chest some years later, tied a rope to its ring deal with and tried to drag it out, however the deal with ring got here away and the chest was by no means seen once more. This deal with was stated to have been given to the native church at Skógar village and used on its door. At present, that outdated church door ring could be seen within the Skógar Folks Museum.
On sunny days it’s not unusual to see single or double rainbows within the spray produced from Skógafoss. Sadly, we weren’t in luck on that entrance because the sky was overcast on the time of our go to.
Entry to the falls is simple with a carpark very shut by. There’s a toilet on the entrance to the automobile park additionally which you will have to pay for; it occurred to be open to all after we have been stopped by, however have some change with you simply in case.
Planning a visit to Iceland your self? You may watch a video from our journey to Iceland right here. You may see footage from Skógafoss between 5m 29s to 5m 44s:
Our journey to Iceland was additionally sponsored by Helly Hansen.
