Barnafoss (Husafell, West, Iceland)

Special Topics

World's Best Waterfalls

Waterfalls
In The USA
Regions

Special States

Special Parks

Waterfalls
Around The World
The Americas

Asia

Oceania

Europe and Africa

Waterfall Community

Barnafoss

Barnafoss is really more of a series of rapids as the Hvítá River (not to be confused with the river by the same name responsible for Gullfoss) is forced through a narrow rocky chute that once had a natural bridge spanning across it. The meaning of this waterfall translates into "children falls", but the signs here indicated that two children who fell and lost their lives over that natural bridge while the parents were in town at church for Christmas Mass. The saga indicated that the mother of those kids had the bridge destroyed (via some spell) once she realized what had happened. Now in reality, natural bridges collapse under themselves given the powerful erosive forces from the rapidly moving river that undercut whatever was supporting the bridge.

We did a little bit of a walk to reach this rapids flanked by lava walls and rocks. Even though the obvious natural bridge had collapsed, it looked like there was still another one near the level of the river, which I'm not sure was the same bridge or a different one. The walk probably takes around 20-30 minutes round trip.

Directions: This waterfall is in the same area as Hraunfossar. See that page for driving directions.

[Back to top]

Is that another natural bridge down there?

[Back to top]

Looking at the turbulent river squeeze between the lava rocks. It looks like there might be a natural bridge down there, too!

View Larger Map

TRIP REPORTS

For more information about our experiences with this waterfall, check out the following travel stories.

June 24, 2007

GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCES

NEARBY WATERFALLS

Hraunfossar

Have You Been To This Waterfall?

Share your experience!

Click here to see visitor comments for this waterfall

Click here to see visitor comments for other waterfalls that we've visited in this region

Click here to go to the Comments Main Page

Enter Your Title

Tell Us Your Story! [ ? ]

Upload 1-4 Pictures or Graphics (optional) [ ? ]

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name	(first or full name)
Your Location	(ex. City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

Check box to agree to these submission guidelines.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)

Click here to see the rest of the form and complete your submission.

[Back to top]

[Go to the Vesturland og Vestfirðir Waterfalls Page]

[Go to the Iceland Page]

[Return from Barnafoss to the World of Waterfalls Home Page]

FOLLOW US ON:

There's lots to say about Iceland and its waterfalls. Click on one of the following links to jump to the section you're interested in...

If you like this page,
you might also like...

Westfjords and Western
Iceland Waterfalls

Iceland Waterfalls

Iceland's Top 10

Europe Waterfalls

Other Icelandic
Attractions

Iceland Travel Stories

Tell YOUR Story!

Featured Visitor Stories
or Comments

Winter Gullfoss

I love your Gullfoss pictures, they look so different from when I visited this waterfall in November. An immense icy waterfall surrounded by snow...[more]

Hjalparfoss is great - don't miss it

I visited Hjalparfoss with a British group in 2008. We had been to many of the famous large falls and Gullfoss is still top of the list for sheer overpowering grandeur. BUT...[more]

Amateur Photographer

In 1989 I saw beautiful Svöðufoss waterfall and was amazed. I shot a photo and here it is....[more]

Glymur

We visited Glymur last summer, with our two teenage daughters. After a beautiful but challenging hike, we got tired of listening to older daughter's complaining...[more]

Explore the
World of Waterfalls

See Where We've Been!

The World's Top 10

Waterfalls FAQ

Waterfalls 101

Take an Emotive Journey!

Waterfalls Blog

Weather

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps