Fjadrargljufur (Fjaðrárgljúfur) is a beautiful, picturesque canyon that is located in southern Iceland, near the historic town of Kirkjubaejarklaustur. It reaches a depth of about 100 meters and a length of about two kilometers, and its walls are dotted with numerous waterfalls.
Creation of Fjadrargljufur Canyon
The rocks among which the canyon was formed date to about 2 million years ago. When the underlying glacier retreated up the valley above today’s canyon after the last glaciation (about 10,000 years ago), it created a lake there. The water from this lake carried a lot of sand and rock debris, so that as it flowed toward the ocean, it quite easily carved the present-day canyon into the volcanic tuffs and hyaloclastics.
The canyon’s genesis is described in more detail in his book by University of Iceland volcanology professor Þorvaldur Þórðarson (Thorvaldur Thordarson):
The Plio-Pleistocene sediments that make up the cliffs rising above Kirkjubæjarklaustur consist of the 700-m-thick Síða volcanic succession. Its formation occurred before the Ice Age. The dominant features here were 14 submarine hyaloclastic lava flows. Each lava spout is usually covered by a 15-meter-thick layer of lapilli volcanic tuff. The lava at the base of these spouts is often characterized by a columnar structure, resembling the formation called Kirkjugólf (church floor), which we can see at Kirkjubæjarklaustur and on the Dverghamrar cliffs. […]
Over the past 10,000 years, rivers have gouged many ravines and foothills in the slopes of Síða, but they all give way to the Fjaðrárgljúfur ravine. It is here that the Fjaðrá River formed a 100-meter deep gorge in the hyaloclasts and other rock formations found in Síða.
Source: Þórðarson, Þ. et al.: Classic Geology in Europe 3, ICELAND, Terra Publishing, 2002;
quote for: Vatnajökull National Park: Geology and Geodynamics, Hrafnhildur Hannesdóttir et al.;
translated in-house
Why Fjadrargljufur is Justin Bieber’s canyon
Video: Fjadrargljufur canyon.
Until 2015, Fjaðrárgljúfur was relatively unknown and much less crowded than other attractions in the area. However, when Canadian singer Justin Bieber’s music video for his song I’ll Show You, filmed largely right in the Fjadrargljufur area, was released in late 2015, crowds of tourists and fans of the singer rushed to the canyon. The canyon itself has “adopted” the name of its promoter and is often known just as Justin Bieber Canyon (Justin Bieber Canyon).
Well, the original name is indeed not easy to pronounce and remember. Even popular Google maps makes a typo in it by giving Fjarðarárgljúfur, instead of Fjaðrárgljúfur. In contrast, “Justin Bieber’s canyon” will be understood and easily remembered by everyone. In addition, such a name attracts tourists and spurs sales of tours to this place – the very pluses…
However, it should be mentioned that the music video – and the new name – have made the place so popular that the influx of tourists has caused very extensive damage to the nature of the canyon. So much so that in 2019 its interior was closed to visitors and today we can only admire it from the viewing platform at the top.
How to get to Fjadrargljufur
Fjaðrárglúgur is a great place to stop for those traveling along the South Coast east of the town of Vik. Because of the contrast between the dark rocks, foaming waters and green mosses, this place is very photogenic and popular with photographers. It’s worth coming here at the end of the day – we can then see the sunset above/behind the canyon.
To reach Fjaðrárgljúfur, take Road 1 and turn north on Road 206 about 6 km west of the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur. Access to the parking lot at the viewpoint is easy but unmarked, and it may be closed in autumn, winter and spring. During this period, it is best to ask for information at one of the nearby gas stations on Highway 1.
When the access is closed, the information is located immediately at the exit from Road No. 1. So if it is not there – you can drive with confidence.
