View source for Barnafossar

{{one source|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox waterfall
| name = Barnafoss
| photo = Barnafoss 2004.jpg
| photo_width = 
| photo_caption = 
| location = West of [[Iceland]]
| coords = 
| elevation = 
| map = Iceland
| type =
| height = {{Convert|9|m|ft}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/waterfall/Barnafoss-14346 |title=Barnafoss, Iceland |website=www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com |access-date=20 June 2025}}</ref>
| width =  {{Convert|11|m|ft}}
| number_drops = 
| average_flow = 
| watercourse = 
| world_rank = 
}}
'''Barnafoss''' ({{IPA|is|ˈpa(r)tnaˌfɔsː}}), also known as '''Bjarnafoss''' {{IPA|is|ˈpja-|}}, is a [[waterfall]] in Western [[Iceland]] on the river [[Hvítá (Árnessýsla)|Hvítá]] in [[Borgarfjörður]], about {{Convert|100|km|mi}} from [[Reykjavík]]. Located directly upstream from [[Hraunfossar]], the two waterfalls flow out of the Hallmundarhraun [[lava]] field. 

==In mythology==
Many Icelandic folk tales have been associated with Barnafoss, the most famous being about two boys from a nearby farm, Hraunsás. One day, the boys' parents went with their ploughmen to a church. The boys were supposed to stay at home, but as they grew bored, they decided to follow their parents. They made a shortcut and crossed a [[natural bridge|natural stone-bridge]] that was above the waterfall. But on their way, they felt dizzy and fell into the water and drowned. When their mother found out what had happened, she put a [[Magic (paranormal)|spell]] on the bridge, saying that nobody would ever cross it without drowning himself. A little while later, the bridge was demolished in an [[earthquake]].

Another waterfall, Barnafoss, is on the river [[Skjálfandafljót]] near the abandoned farm Barnafell in [[Ljósavatn]] County. There, the river runs in a narrow, and close to {{Convert|100|m|ft}} deep canyon. According to legends, young and brave men jumped across its narrowest parts. During prolonged subzero periods, the spray creates an ice arch across the river above the waterfall, and sometimes a rope was strung across the river there to quicken this development. Flocks of sheep were driven over that bridge to graze on [[Þingey]], the island between the two branches of the river.

==See also==
* [[List of waterfalls]]
* [[List of waterfalls in Iceland]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Barnafoss}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040623093342/http://www.listasafn.is/safn_asgrims/as_staekkanir/barnafoss.htm  Painting by A. Jónsson]

{{Waterfalls of Iceland}}

{{Coord|64|42|7|N|20|58|41|W|region:IS_type:waterbody|display=title}}

[[Category:Waterfalls of Iceland]]
[[Category:Borgarbyggð]]
[[Category:West Volcanic Zone of Iceland]]