Amazing Places – Part 1: Gjain

As we all prepare for the summer, we want to start a new series on our blog called "Amazing Places, Inspiring People of Iceland," where we, the locals, share stories about our favorite locations, where we spend our free time, and the people who inspire us. 
Meike will kick off the series by telling us about a special place near her farm in South Iceland.

Gjáin Valley in Þjórsárdalur 
Gjáin is a small but incredibly picturesque canyon in the Þjórsárdalur Valley in South Iceland. It is renowned for its natural beauty, featuring a series of small waterfalls, lush greenery, and stunning rock formations. The name "Gjáin" translates to "chasm" or "rift" in English, which accurately describes its presence in the rugged volcanic surroundings. Today, a small stream called Rauðá – the "Red River" – flows through it, cascading down the idyllic waterfall "Gjáfoss," lined by beautiful basalt columns. Geologists believe that the nearby and much larger glacial river Þjórsá may have flowed partly through this canyon at some point.

​The predominant rock in the Gjáin fissure is "móberg," a palagonite rock typically formed when new volcanic ash accumulates around a volcano and is heavily compressed. Most likely, a large stream of lava from the early "Tungnarárhraun" lava flow came down the valley in prehistorical times, filling the narrow canyon or fissure with hot lava. Then the lava flow belched forward so rapidly due to the steepness of the area that little of the lava actually solidified there in the constriction, instead merely lining the bottom and walls of the old canyon with a thin layer of lava and leaving behind "swollen" lava ridges at the edges where it overflowed. 
For many centuries, Gjáin was used as an overnight stop during the annual sheep gathering in autumn. Locals can still point out the places where the farmers slept and kept their horses. Today, this beautiful little valley is a popular picnic spot and hiking area for locals and tourists alike

How to get there: From Selfoss, drive along Road 1 towards Hella, then turn onto #30 towards Flúðir, and finally onto #32 towards Landmannalaugar. Shortly after passing signs for Hjálparfoss waterfall, turn left onto a rocky road that will take you to Gjáin valley and Stöng, a historic farm and excavation site. From there, it's only a short hike – easy for almost everybody! We recommend using a 4x4 car.
Location: N64° 8' 59.068" W19° 45' 24.490"

If you would like to visit Gjáin, Stöng and Hjálparfoss waterfall, contact us and our professional travel designers will be happy to find the right tour for you, be it on our Hike & Relax hiking tours, a self-drive or a guided private tour with one of our amazing guides! 

Text:  Meike Erika Witt Pétursdóttir 
Photos:  Steinunn Guðbjörnsdóttir & Einar Bjarnason