Hraunfossar-The lava falls
The Lava Falls
Located near the town of Borganes, Hraunfossar-The lava falls are a very interesting attraction and that’s because of the geology of the waterfall.
The Hraunfossar is actually formed by a series of waterfalls that originate from rivulets streaming out of the Hallmundarhraun lava field over a distance of about 900 m (2952 ft).
The name of the waterfall means ‘Lava Falls’ from the Icelandic word for lava ‘hraun’ and waterfall ‘foss’.
The lava field was formed after the eruption of one of the volcanos that lie under the glacier of Langjökull which is the second-largest ice-cap in Iceland. The waterfalls pour into a river called Hvítá in Borgarfjörður.
The area around Hraunfossar changed constantly because of the eruptions and that caused the formation of some caves. The longest lava cave in Iceland, Víðgelmir, can be found near the waterfall.
The geology of the cave is unique as it was formed just one thousand years ago and its human history is closely related to folklore. It is believed that the cave is home to trolls. Near the Hraunfossar can be found also Barnafoss waterfall.
To get to the Hraunfossar you have to drive one hour and a half north on Route 1 and when you get to Borganes you follow road 50.
If you want to visit Hraunfossar-The lava falls and other places in Western Iceland you can do it by booking a tour.
