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Ísland 2008: Öxarárfoss

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The river drops from the higher land into Allmannagjá at this waterfall, Öxarárfoss.

Sturlunga saga says that during the early days of Iceland's settlement, Ketilbjörn enn gamli (the old) and his men came upon a frozen river. They cut a hole in the ice and dropped in the axe to claim the land, and so they called it Axe River (Öxará).

Later, the course of the river was diverted into the Allmannagjá gorge, forming the falls. Geological evidence supports at least a part of the story. Traces of the old riverbed can be found further to the west.

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