Bruarhlod canyon, spelled Brúarhlöð in Icelandic, is a magnificent canyon in South Iceland. Its main features are it’s otherworldly pillars and cliffs, carved out by the mighty Hvita river over the centuries.
The canyon lives up to the geological extremes of Iceland as the land of fire and ice. Bruarhlod’s walls are of breccia rock or hyaloclastite origins, more commonly known for their sediments and glass composition. These rocks were the products of volcanic and tectonic events in the country, like eruptions and earthquakes.
The raging waters of the Hvítá river greatly influenced the current canyon form. As one of the most voluminous rivers in Iceland, Hvita’s water current is powerful. That is why it was able to pass through and deepen the cliff of Bruarhlod canyon throughout the ages.