Iceland: Day 4 - Hraunfossar and Barnafoss

June 28, 2004

The waterfalls Hraunfossar and Barnafoss are beautiful and unusual natural phenomena. The "Lava Falls" (Hraunfossar) are clear, cold springs that well up through the lava and run in falls and rapids into the Hvítá River. Barnafoss has been evolving through recorded history, as the river has dug itself down through the lava and runs in a deep and narrow ravine. There used to be a stone arch spanning the river.

historical notes: the following story accounts for the name of barnafoss (Children's waterfall) and for the disappearance of a stone arch that used to bridge the river. One Christmas day the household at Hraunsás went to attend mass, with the exception of two children who were to stay at home. When the people returned, the children had vanished but their tracks led to the river. The children had fallen off the stone arch and drowned. Their mother then had the arch destroyed to prevent the recurrence of such a tragedy.

a section of the waterfall

a view down stream from the waterfall

the waterfalls coming out from the lava fields

a trail on top of the lava field

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