Brúarárfoss waterfall is one of the most beautiful and colorful waterfalls in Iceland. Its turquoise water creates a truly unique effect against the greenery of the surrounding vegetation.
The water from Brúarárfoss (and the Brúará River that feeds it) comes from the Langjökull Glacier.
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The name Brúarfoss means “bridge waterfall” in Icelandic, so named for the wooden bridges that once spanned the river. The waterfall features a double drop of 3 and 2 meters, for a total drop of 5 meters.
A legend is linked to the waterfall’s name: it is said that it was once topped by a natural stone arch, destroyed in 1602 by a church servant. According to the story, the man wanted to prevent poor farmers from reaching Skálholt and the richer areas of Iceland during a time of great famine.
The “electric” and almost unreal turquoise color of Brúarfoss is the result of a natural phenomenon linked to its glacial origin. Here are the main causes:
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“Glacial Silt”: The water comes from the Langjökull glacier (Iceland’s second largest). As it moves, the glacier grinds and pulverizes the rocks below, creating a very fine powder called glacial flour.
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Suspension and Refraction: These microscopic particles of sediment and silica-rich minerals remain suspended in the water without settling to the bottom. When sunlight hits the river, these particles absorb the colors of the solar spectrum but reflect the blue and green wavelengths.
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Color Contrast: The visual effect is amplified by the riverbed, composed of dark black volcanic rocks, which makes the bright turquoise stand out even more against the green of the surrounding vegetation.
A differenza di molti fiumi glaciali che appaiono grigi o marroni per via di sedimenti più pesanti e fangosi, nel fiume Brúará la concentrazione e la finezza dei sedimenti sono perfette per creare quella tonalità azzurro-lattea unica.
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