Skjálfandafljót

"Skjálfandafljót is one of the largest rivers in the north, falling into the Skjálfandaflói bay. 178 km long and with a drainage area of 3.860 km². Its source is in Vonarskarð and the glaciers Tungnafellsjökull and Vatnajökull, with tributaries from the Ódáðahraun lava field. Flows through Bárðardalur valley. It has many waterfalls, amoung them Aldeyjarfoss, Goðafoss, Barnafoss and Ullarfoss."

"Goðafoss, "Falls of the Gods", is among the finest in the country, not very high but cut into horseshoe-shaped falls. Not far above the falls the river Skjálfandafljót divides in two, forming the island Hrútey. According to the Sagas Þorgeir of Ljósavatn threw his statues of the gods into the falls when Iceland converted to Christianity in the year 1000, hence the name. The lavafield by teh falls, Bárðardalshraun, came from Trölladyngja north of Vatnajökull. Just below Goðafoss is a hole through the lava known as Hansensgat ("Hansen's hole") into which a chemist from Akureyri named Hansen fell but survived unhurt. Undirheimaförin ("Journey to the Underworld") by the poet Kristján Jónsson, called Fjallaskáld, commemorates the event."

"Aldeyjarfoss is an impressive waterfall in the Skjálfandafljót river, in a unique setting of basalt columns and rock caves."

Goðafoss, beauty and tranquillity
Goðafoss in winter costume

Aldeyjarfoss, a magical place

Bárðardalur

Quotes from The Visitor's Key to Iceland, other text is mine