Öxará

Gorge of Öxará at Þingvellir

The Öxará is a river in southwest Iceland.

River course

The Öxará springs near the volcano Botnssúlur in the area of ​​Hvalfjörður between Leggjabrjótur and Búrfell and flows from there to the south. He flows in the valley after appointed him Öxarárdalur to the south and over the lava field Biskupsbrekkuhraun.

It has been found in archaeological and geological studies indicate that the river in earlier times had a different course than it is today and through the Stekkjargjá. In the Sturlungur saga is reported that the river was already diverted in the early days of colonization in the Almannagjá so that the Thingort would better supplied with water. Thus, the river course, the oldest existing building in Þingvellir dar.

The Öxará now flows over the Þingvellir in the West limiting plateau and pours in Öxarárfoss in the canyon Almannagjá ( " Allmänner Canyon "). The Öxará here is different basins and islands, flows down into the plain of Thingvellir and finally empties into the Þingvallavatn.

Most important data

The river is one of the smaller ones in Iceland, has a catchment area of 45 km ², with a length of 17 km.

History and legends

The river certainly contributed to the benefits of the place for a parliamentary meeting.

On the other hand, he had a dubious reputation, because in a Kolk near the Thingstätte formed with its water, women were executed by drowning, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries.

A legend tells, particularly when many queuing executions, the water would have transformed days earlier in blood.

According to another legend, the water turns to New Year's Eve wine.