Thought to be the tallest waterfall in Europe at the time of discover, Haifoss, meaning ‘The Tall’, is known known as Iceland’s second highest waterfall. The Fossa river rushes past a plateau of green, carrying its load of glacial spring water to the very edge before plunging the water down the steep fall to the raging rivers below. There are no jutting ledges or rock mounds at the Haifoss to break the water’s fall so the impact of the water with the lava canyon dug out below creates an endless, reverberating crash against the gorge’s walls.

From the promontory past the road, you can see till the unknown horizons of the valley. Haifoss’s sister falls, the Granni can be seen peeking past the rocky slopes of the valley as a silver streak but the complimenting beauty of both falls can’t be captured within a frame. The walk down to the foot of the falls is tricky but along the way, you should be able to make out the steady gradient of grays and ochre painted into the rock. These shelves are a living clock detailing the 2 million years of history running deep within the grounds of the valley. For 2 million years, these waters have shaped the valley to support the abundant life, a jarring break from the untilled soil that was left behind on the roads. The Haifoss is any landscape photographer’s dream, a testament to the bounties of nature still preserved within Iceland.