Icelandic waterfall trails: Hengifoss and Litlanesfoss

We start the ascent from Hengifoss car park, from Weber it takes an hour to get to the end of the trail. After a good 15-20 minutes we reach first the Litlanesfoss. It is simply amazing, how the waterfall breaks through the different type of volcanic columns. We continue on the well paved road until the end. From there on, there is a possibility to follow a path just beside the stream until the final part of the valley, almost until the waterfall. However, be aware that the view is much better from a distance. The red stripes of the black basalt is truly wonderful, and with its height of 128 meters, this is the 2nd highest waterfalls of Iceland. But how come the red stripes? There was a four-step process giving rise to them. The first step was the deposition of volcanic ash and basaltic lava. Second, the mineral rich ash sitting atop the hardened basalt became soil. Third, clay compounds were formed from this soil as a result of the damp climate of the Tertiary Period. Finally, lava would flow over the soil, which was rich in iron, causing it to oxidate and turn red thereby resulting in the reddish clay trapped between the thicker basalt layers. t This process would repeat, which was how there were multiple stripes. Completed: 28 July 2020