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unusual facts about Hvítá, Borgarfjörður



Hraunfossar

Hraunfossar (Borgarfjörður, western Iceland) is a series of waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming over a distance of about 900 metres out of the Hallmundarhraun, a lava field which flowed from an eruption of one of the volcanoes lying under the glacier Langjökull.

The waterfalls pour into the Hvítá river from ledges of less porous rock in the lava.

Hvítá

There is more than one river called Hvítá in Iceland.

Hvítá, Borgarfjörður in the west of Iceland, near the Reykholtsdalur (see Hraunfossar),

Hvítá, Árnessýsla

The river flows for 40 km (25 mi) before dropping down into a narrow gorge at the Gullfoss waterfall.

Langjökull

However research has shown that large quantities of water flow in sub-surface streams to lake Þingvallavatn (some 50 km to the south and easily accessible to tourists) and reappear in springs in and around the lake, while the same happens on the west side, giving rise to various tributaries of the Hvítá River as well as some rivers flowing north towards Húnaflói.

Skálholt

Skálholt (Old Icelandic: Skálaholt) is a historical site in the south of Iceland, at the river Hvítá.

Sport in Iceland

Hvítá, among many other of the Icelandic glacial rivers, attracts kayakers and river rafters worldwide.


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