27 May 2017 - Iceland Day 2: Hraunfossar and Barnafoss

From Húsafell, it's just a few minutes drive to two beautiful waterfalls that are not to be missed.  First we arrived at Hraunfossar waterfalls.

This waterfalls consist of countless springs of clear water that emerge from under the edge of the lava field Hallmundarhraun and flow into the river Hvítá.  Hallmundarhraun consists of pillow lava and is believed to have been formed in about 800 AD, shortly after the first recorded settlers arrived in Iceland.  It is named after Hallmundar, who according to the Grettis saga lived in the area.

Surface water and the melt-water from the glaciers runs between the lava layers and emerges to form the Hraunfossar falls, which are about 1 km wide and splash down into Hvítá among the rocks and birch-scrub vegetation all year round.

Time for some wefies, say cheese!

We took the waterfalls from different angles to capture its beauty.

Above Hraunfossar is another famous waterfall called Barnofoss (children's fall).

Barnafoss is where the channel of the Hvítá narrows.  Here the river has carved out bridges and stone arches and sculpted the rocks with its violent force.  The average flow rate is 80 cubic meters per second, but in flood it has reached up to 500 cubic meters per second.  This area was declared a national monument in 1987.

After viewing the two amazing waterfalls, we took a relaxed walk back to our car.

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