Northernmost Town of Siglufjordur

The charming and sleepy town of Siglufjordur is situated at a stunning fjord of the Troll Peninsula. It reminded me of Siglufjordur. The similarity of being surrounded by dramatic mountains together with lovely reflections from the fjord. Itâ€s like finding these places that were intentionally hidden away by nature.

Siglufjordur had a glorious past and was once known as the herring capital. The boom transformed a small fishing village into a thriving town. And Siglufjordur was one of Iceland’s most important ports. The herring exported from the town alone accounted to over 20% of the countryâ€s total exports! But the fishing boom did not last due to overfishing. The golden days are documented at the Herring Era Museum. It’s also the largest seafaring and maritime museum in Iceland. But it was closed during that day…oh well.

The main industry is still very much in fishing. But with a shifted focus on tourism for the 1,300+ inhabitants living here. It was a very quiet day during my visit that I hardly see any actions around the town. Itâ€s perhaps still not as well-known when compared to other towns in Iceland.

I also visited Olafsfjordur for some quick photo. Itâ€s another lovely and sleepy town surrounded by the steep mountains in Northern Iceland.

The friendly Icelandic Horses

I lost count of the numbers of Icelandic horses I came across while driving along from places to places. But the horses were usually roaming quite far away. But I spotted a number of them gathering near the fence this time around. And I stopped on the side of the road to have a closer look. This friendly bunch noticed my presence immediately and gathered around. Ended up, I was the one getting check out by them LOL. I suppose they are just wondering if I have food for them. Sorry folks, I ainâ€t got any with me!

The Icelandic horses are all pure breed and those that were exported will not be allowed to return. Besides their pleasant temperament, they are much shorter than the usual horses that we frequently see elsewhere. Hence, the Icelandic horses are often mistaken for ponies for that reason. They are kept for either horse riding or food. Yes, they are known to be a local delicacy by the Icelanders. Oh my!

The tall wooden sculpture at Safnasafnid Folk and Outsider Art Museum is an interesting sight too.

Godafoss, Waterfall of the Gods

Next up will be the infamous Godafoss. It’s also known as ‘the Waterfall of the Gods’. The name came about where a Viking chieftain was entrusted to decide Icelanders’ faith. He was to consider whether to adopt Christianity as the official religion. The chieftain opted for it in the end. He then threw all his Norse Pagan gods statues into the waterfall. And thatâ€s how the waterfall name had derived. But it seems that nobody knows about the accuracy of this explanation.

Godafoss is nevertheless one of the stunning waterfalls in Iceland. It’s also definitely among the most elegant-looking ones. The horseshoe-shaped waterfall with its multiple streams is an impressive sight. Its water flows from River Skjalfandafljot which is also the main source for some of the other nearby waterfalls. Godafoss is easily accessible from the Ring Road. It’s just a short walking distance from the visitors†car park. It’s also a great place to capture the beautiful Northern Lights.

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What are your thoughts about Siglufjordur or Godafoss? Leave a comment and share it with me.

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Foss a Sidu Waterfall in Iceland

The entrance to the first waterfall has a ‘Private†and ‘Closed†signages so itâ€s not possible to get closer without trespassing the privately-owned spaces. But I am contended to see it from a distance while respecting the owners†rights. The name of this small and tall waterfall is mentioned as Foss a Sidu on Google Map.

Man, itâ€s so cool to own a property with a private waterfall as such!

The next waterfall is a mere 10 minutes†drive from Foss a Sidu and it’s situated near to the Ring Road. I think itâ€s more like a rapid rather than a typical waterfall but still beautiful nevertheless. The cascading and gushing waters make a wonderful pair for photography. More so, with the rocky mountain as a backdrop.

Vatnajokull National Park

The impressive Vatnajokull National Park covers an extensive area with a diverse landscape that captivates its visitors. Vatnajökull which roughly translates to ‘Water Glacier†in Icelandic is the largest national park in Iceland. The other two being Þingvellir and Snæfellsjokull. Together with the infamous Vatnajokull Glacier, well-known places within the park include Iceland’s highest mountain in Hvannadalshnjukur. The Svartifoss waterfall in Skaftafell Nature Reserve. Not forgetting Dettifoss Waterfall, Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Crystal Ice Cave.

My first destination in Vatnajökull National Park involves a short 1.5km hike from the information centre to see the famed Svartifoss. There are 2 other waterfalls, Hundafoss and Magnusarfoss along the way as well.

Hundafoss and Magnusarfoss

I arrived at Hundafoss, the first waterfall, after 15 minutes of walking. The water plunges from the cliff and it looks quite good. But the thick foliage obstructed plenty of the views and makes it such a challenge to get a clear shot. This spoiler is probably the reason why nobody else bothers to stop by except me on that day. An alternative is to walk up to the gorge where the action starts.

The next is Magnusarfoss, which is even smaller than Hundafoss but with the same foliage problem.

Svartifoss and the basalt columns

After hiking for another 20 minutes, I can finally see Svartifoss aka ‘Black Falls†from a distance. Soon enough, I am admiring Svartifoss from the footbridge which doubles up as a viewing platform. However, the platformâ€s position does not provide a good front view of Svartifoss. Itâ€s possible to get nearer to the waterfall but the rocky terrain can be a potential ankle-twister.

Svartifoss looks impressive and unique together with the black geometrical basalt columns. The naturally created columns give a stunning frame to the waterfall and stand out from its surrounding. These unique columns found in a few places in Iceland are said to be the inspiration for Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavik. The 45 minutes of walk (one way) was worthwhile after all!

Skaftafellsjokull Glacier

Once I am back at the information centre, I head towards my second destination in the National Park – Skaftafellsjokull Glacier. Skaftafellsjokull is one of the glacier tongues of the humongous Vatnajokull ice cap and perhaps the most accessible one. It took me about 30 minutes†walk on the rather levelled terrain until the rocky part towards the end. The temperature drops noticeably as I got nearer to the massive Skaftafellsjokull.

I am so amazed by the glacier and was tempted to get closer to this natural marvel. But I decided to heed the advice of the warning sign. More so when I am definitely ill-equipped while being alone that quiet afternoon. I stayed on to capture more pictures until the chilling wind decided itâ€s time for me to leave. And so I made my way to both Fjallsarlon and Jokulsarlon next.

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What are your thoughts about Svartifoss and Skaftafellsjokull Glacier? Leave a comment and share it with me.

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