Skógafoss

Skógafoss
Location Skógar, Iceland
Type Cataract
Total height 60 m (200 ft)
Number of drops 1
Total width 25 m (82 ft)
Watercourse Skógá

Skógafoss (pronounced [ˈskou.aˌfɔs]) is a waterfall situated on the Skógá River in the south of Iceland at the cliffs of the former coastline. After the coastline had receded seaward (it is now at a distance of about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) from Skógar), the former sea cliffs remained, parallel to the coast over hundreds of kilometres, creating together with some mountains a clear border between the coastal lowlands and the Highlands of Iceland.

Geography

Skógafoss from the west side of the river

The Skógafoss is one of the biggest waterfalls in the country with a width of 25 metres (82 feet) and a drop of 60 m (200 ft). Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow is normally visible on sunny days. According to legend, the first Viking settler in the area, Þrasi Þórólfsson, buried a treasure in a cave behind the waterfall. The legend continues that locals found the chest years later, but were only able to grasp the ring on the side of the chest before it disappeared again. The ring was allegedly given to the local church. The old church door ring is now in a museum, though whether it gives any credence to the folklore is debatable.

At the eastern side of the waterfall, a hiking and trekking trail leads up to the pass Fimmvörðuháls between the glaciers Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. It goes down to Þórsmörk on the other side and continues as the famous Laugavegur to Landmannalaugar.

The waterfall was the setting for Sólstafir's 2012 music video Fjara off their album Svartir Sandar.[1]

The waterfall was a location for the filming of the Marvel Studios film Thor: The Dark World, as well as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. The waterfall has been used as one of the locations of song Geruwa, in 2015 Bollywood movie Dilwale featuring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol.

The official music video of "I'll Show You" features glacial lagoons and rivers in South Iceland, including the waterfall Skógafoss.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ The music video on Youtube Retrieved on December 14, 2012.
  2. ↑ Hafstad, Vala (3 November 2015). "Justin Bieber's Video, 'I'll Show You' (Iceland)". Iceland Review. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
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