4 waterfalls you should visit in Iceland

While in Iceland I saw a countless number of waterfalls. Here is a quick list of my favorites:

1.) Seljalandsfoss                     2.) Skogafoss                     3.) Gullfoss                     4.) Svartifoss

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1.) Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss is a large waterfall about an hour and 45 minutes away from Reykjavík. Waters fall from nearly 200 feet in the air. The flow originates from Eyjafjallajökull, a volcanic glacier. Yes, it’s remarkable to behold from the front (as you see in the images below), but you’re also able to walk behind the waterfall. Scroll down to see more. 

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2.) Skogafoss

Skogafoss is one of the largest waterfalls in all of Iceland at almost 50 feet wide. It is famous for the amount of double rainbows that can be spotted in its crashing waters. Scroll down to see the light reflecting and refracting beauty in action.

There is an Icelandic legend that the first Viking settler, Þrasi Þórólfsson, buried treasure behind the falls.

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There is a large staircase on the side of the hill you can climb to see the waterfall from above. There is also a series several smaller falls if you continue up the trail.

3.) Gullfoss

Gullfoss is one of the biggest waterfalls I’ve ever seen. It is made up of a three-step staircase. The water moves so fast and with such furry down the Hvítá River from the Hvítávatn glacier lake.

As more modern day Icelandic legend goes, Gullfoss was once privately owned by nearby farmers. They rented the falls to foreign investors. When they discovered the investors planned on using the falls as a source of energy, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of owner Tómas Tómasson, was deeply upset. She threatened to throw herself into the raging waters if the renters built a hydroelectric powerplant. No plant was ever built.

4.) Svartifoss

Svartifoss (aka: the black falls), located in Skaftafell National Park, was once all farmland. The water flows from above over dark lava columns. These beautiful columnar jointing formations bring in many tourists, and it’s easy to see why. This hexagonal fracture pattern in the rocks is mesmerizing. It’s hard to believe it occurs naturally, but cooled lava is nothing short of amazing.

Which waterfall would you most like to visit?