!!!Waterfalls of Iceland

by
members of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

25 February 2012

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

Getting in touch with nature and its natural wonders in Iceland can be a
very enlightening and relaxing experience. And there is probably nothing
in nature more breathtaking than a waterfall. One such natural wonder is
the Svartifoss waterfall, also known as the black fall. The water falls
from a height of about 20 meters (60 feet) and is located in a horseshoe
shaped gorge filled with dark basalt columns.

Svartifoss waterfall is located in Skaftafell National Park. This park
in southeast Iceland was established in 1956. Svartifoss is definetely
one of the most popular sights in the park. Fed by ice-cold meltwater
from Svinafellsjokull, the narrow strand of water pours over a broad
cliff of hexagonal basalt columns that seem to hang like organ pipes
over the edge of a horseshoe-shaped ampitheater. This natural feature
was the inspiration for the architectural design of Hallgrímskirkja
church in Reykjavík, and also the National Theatre.

[{Image src='01_Svartifoss.jpg' caption='Svartifoss' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='563'}]

The base of this waterfall is noteworthy for its sharp rocks. New
hexagonal column sections break off faster than the falling water wears
down the edges.

It's interesting that the Iceland's natural beauty is perfectly
complemented by the numerous and almost magical waterfalls that are
spread throughout the country. This island country has a north Atlantic
climate that produces frequent rain or snow and a near-Arctic location
that produces large glaciers, whose summer melts feed many rivers. Small
or large, all of Iceland 's waterfalls have a special attraction of
their own, each providing locals and visitors with a sight worth
remembering.

Apart from Svartifoss, our favourite waterfall, we love several other
magical waterfalls. In our virtual tour we show Sellfoss, Seijalandsfoss
and Skógafoss which together with Svartifoss are the most beautiful
waterfalls in Iceland.

Skógafoss is a magnificent waterfall in the southern part of Iceland. It
is also one of the most-visited waterfalls in a country that is bursting
at the seams with waterfalls. Legend has it that the first settler in
the area, Þrasi Þórólfsson, buried a treasure chest in a cave behind
Skógafoss. A local boy found the chest years later, but was only able to
grasp the ring on the side of the chest before it disappeared again. So
apparently the treasure is still there and everyone can try to find it!

[{Image src='02_Skogafoss.jpg' caption='Skogafoss' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='563'}]

Seljalandsfoss is one of the most famous waterfalls of Iceland. It is
very picturesque and therefore its photo can be found in many books and
calendars. Seljalandsfoss drops 60 metres (200 ft) over the cliffs of
the former coastline. There is an unique opportunity to go behind the
waterfall.

Selfoss is a waterfall in the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum in the north of
Iceland which drops over some waterfalls about 30 km before flowing into
Öxarfjörður, a bay of the Arctic Sea. Selfoss may only be 10m tall but
it's attractively wide and horseshoe-shaped and this is probaly the most
photogenic waterfall in Iceland.

Now we would like to invite you to our Icelandic tour to show all these
magnificent waterfalls.

\\ \\
[5 Panoramas of Waterfalls of Iceland|Geography/Europe/Iceland/Pictures/Panoramas_of_Waterfalls_of_Iceland]










[{SET customtitle='Waterfalls of Iceland (AP)'}]                           

[{Metadata Suchbegriff=' ' Kontrolle='Nein'}]