Brúarfoss
Brúarfoss is a waterfall on the Brúará River in South Iceland, widely known as Iceland's bluest waterfall for the extraordinary turquoise colour of its water. The colour comes from fine glacial sediment suspended in meltwater that originates from Langjökull, Iceland's second-largest glacier, and filters through lava rock before emerging at the falls. The suspended particles reflect light in a way that produces a vivid azure shade that appears almost artificially enhanced, though it is entirely natural. The waterfall itself is modest in height, dropping 2 to 3 metres in a wide crescent-shaped fan over dark basalt, but the colour of the water against the surrounding dark rock and green moss makes it one of the most photographed spots on the Golden Circle. The name means Bridge Falls, after a natural stone arch that once crossed the river here before collapsing sometime in the 15th or 16th century.
Iceland's Bluest Waterfall, Where Glacial Meltwater Turns an Extraordinary Turquoise Against Dark Basalt
Brúarfoss sits on the Brúará River between Þingvellir and Geysir in the Golden Circle area of South Iceland, fed by water originating from Langjökull glacier to the north. As the glacier melts, fine rock flour, ground from bedrock by the movement of the ice, is carried into the meltwater as a suspension of microscopic particles. When this glacial water flows through the porous lava rock of the surrounding landscape before reaching the Brúará, the larger particles settle out but the finest remain in suspension. It is these particles that scatter light in a way that absorbs the longer red wavelengths and reflects blue and green, producing the intense turquoise that makes Brúarfoss visually unlike any other waterfall in Iceland. The effect is most vivid on overcast days when diffuse light hits the water evenly, and visitors who have seen images online consistently report that the colour is even more striking in person.
The waterfall itself drops 2 to 3 metres over a wide, curved lip of dark basalt in a fan-shaped cascade. The crescent shape results from differential erosion along the basalt columns at the river's edge, and two smaller cascades, Hlauptungufoss and Miðfoss, are visible on the same short stretch of river. A natural stone arch once crossed the Brúará here, giving the falls their name, but it is believed to have collapsed sometime in the 15th or 16th century. The riverbanks are lined with moss, wild vegetation, and in summer a variety of flowering plants that add further colour contrast to the scene. The canyon walls on either side of the falls are low but clearly defined, giving the site an enclosed, intimate quality that distinguishes it from Iceland's more dramatic open-landscape waterfalls.
Brúarfoss is more accessible than it once was. A 3-kilometre private access road from the Hlauptunga farm area now leads directly to the waterfall car park, meaning the falls can be reached without the longer hike that was previously required. The car park is off Route 37 and the walk from it to the falls takes around five minutes. The waterfall is free to visit and accessible year-round, though the access road may be affected by winter conditions. It sits between Þingvellir and Geysir and is an easy addition to a Golden Circle itinerary without adding significant time. The nearby Friðheimar geothermal greenhouse is about 15 minutes west and makes a natural combined stop.
