Sjavarfoss (Hvalfjordur, Southwest, Iceland)

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Sjavarfoss

Sjavarfoss (Sjávarfoss; pronounced "SHAU-var-foss"; labeled as "Fossa" on our map) was an unexpected waterfall we noticed waterfall we noticed while driving along Hvalfjörður on the way to Glymur. Despite its fairly small size (by Iceland standards), it got our attention enough that we took the time to pull over and walk towards it. And it was when we did that that we noticed there appeared to be ruins (or at least some maze of rocks) near the car park as well as lots of wildflowers when we walked closer to the falls.

I wasn't fluent enough in Icelandic to be able to read the nearby sign (so we'd know once and for all what the ruins were perhaps), but it certainly looked historical and important. And if that's the case, it would certainly add even more intrigue to this waterfall (like why the ruin would be there and how did they treat the waterfall?) since you don't normally see history and waterfalls mix. Maybe they have a saga for it?

Directions: While driving on Route 47 along Hvalfjörður towards Glymur, it was about 12km east of the turnoff for Route 48. Alternatively, if coming the other way, it's roughly 7km west of the turnoff for Glymur.

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The ruins and the falls

Yellow flowers before the falls

Some purple flowers blooming before Sjavarfoss

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