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Skaftafell
National park in southeast Iceland
was established in 1956. Among
the natural treasures protected
is the 80 foot high Svartifoss,
or "dark waterfall."
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 Reykjavik cathedral
in the nation's capital. [3] |
Columns
next to Svartifoss[2] |
Svartifoss (Black Fall)
is a waterfall in Skaftafell National
Park in Iceland, and is one of the
most popular sights in the park. It
is surrounded by dark lava columns,
which give rise to its name. The hexagonal
columns were formed inside a lava
flow which cooled extremely slowly,
giving rise to crystallization. Similar
well-known lava formations are seen
at the Giant's Causeway in Northern
Ireland, and on the island of Staffa
in Scotland.
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.
These basalt columns
have provided inspiration for Icelandic
architects, most visibly in the Hallgrímskirkja
church in Reykjavík, and also
the National Theatre.[4]
Skaftafell
National Park
Skaftafell National
Park is situated between Kirkjubæjarklaustur,
typically referred to as Klaustur,
and Höfn in the south of Iceland.
It was founded on September
15, 1967, and enlarged twice afterwards.
Today the park measures about 4.807
km2 (2884 mi²), making it Iceland's
second largest national park. There
you can find for example the valley
Morsárdalur, the mountain Kristínartindar
and the glacier Skaftafellsjökull
(a spur of the Vatnajökull ice
cap).
The landscape is very
similar to some of the Alps, but it
has been formed in thousands of years
by different influences of fire (volcanic
eruptions of Öræfajökull)
and water (the glaciers Skeiðarájökull
and Skaftafellsjökull), the rivers
Skeiðará, Morsá
und Skaftafellsá. Volcanic
eruptions under the ice-cap can give
rise to glacier runs (Icelandic:jökulhlaup)
which swell the Skeiðará
river massively. The sandy wasteland
between the glacier and the sea caused
by jökulhlaups is called the
Sandur. The last jökulhlaup occurred
in 1996.
Skaftafell is renowned
in Iceland for its agreeable climate
and the sunny days in summer, uncommon
in the south of Iceland. There is
a natural birch wood, Bæjarstaðarskógur,
as well as many species of birds and
arctic foxes.
The waterfall Svartifoss
(Black Fall) flows over a step of
about 12m. Its name comes from the
black basalt columns behind it.
In the Middle Ages there
were some large farms in this area,
but they were abandoned after two
volcanic eruptions and the ensuing
glacier runs. The two surviving farms
now mostly make a living from tourism.
The park has also an information centre
and a campground. There are many hiking
trails crossing the area.[5]
