SERIES: THE JEWELS OF ICELAND THAT YOU MUST NOT MISS

Roman Pech
8. 8.
Minutes of reading: 2

SELJALANDFOSS is one of Iceland's most famous natural attractions. It is located in the south of the island, near Ring Road 1, about 120 km from Reykjavík. Its height is approximately 60 metres and a special feature is the possibility to walk along a path behind a falling water stream, which is unique in Iceland.

It is not only the Seljalandfoss waterfall that you will see in the documentary The Island in the North. More information on www.ostrovnaseveru.cz or www.icelandinthenorth.com

Seljalandfoss waterfall, photo: Roman Pech

The water of the waterfall comes from the Seljalandsá River, which originates in the Eyjafjallajökull glacier. The glacier is not only a source of water, but in 2010 it became internationally famous for an eruption that disrupted air traffic in Europe.

Eruption of the volcano on the Eyjafjallajökull glacier in 2010, photo: Roman Pech

The name "Seljalandsfoss" can be translated as "waterfall on the Seljaland property". "Selja" refers to the name of the area and "foss" means waterfall in Icelandic.

A WALK BEHIND A MASS OF THUNDERING WATER

Approximately 500,000 tourists visit the waterfall annually. During the summer it is possible to walk safely behind the water wall, in winter the trail is partially closed due to ice.

The history of the waterfall dates back to the Ice Age. Originally, the cliff from which the water falls was located on the coast, but the receding sea has exposed the rock walls on which the water flows today.

There are also several folk tales connected to Seljalandsfoss. According to one of them, a spirit lived in the cave behind the waterfall, protecting the spring and influencing the weather. These legends are an example of Icelandic folklore in which natural formations have soul and power.

The Protected Areas Authority monitors visitor numbers and secures trails for nature conservation. There is a charge for parking.