Tourist stamps V. Thjófafoss Waterfall and Jökulsárlón Lagoon

Þjófafoss Waterfall (Thjofafoss) is located at the south of Búrfell Mountain in Thjorsa, east of the Merkurhraun lava field in the south of Iceland. Þjófafoss means “Thief’s Waterfall” and is thought to derive its name from thiefs being drowned there in times of old. There is a gravel road leading to the waterfall, accessible to cars during summer. Hjálparfoss waterfall and Búrfell hydroelectric power station are close by – Hjálparfoss being one of five waterfalls depicted on stamps on February 2, 2006.

Jökulsárlón is one of Iceland’s best known natural wonders. It is a big glacial lagoon touched by Vatnajökull glacier with huge icebergs floating around while the surrounding landscape is dominated by black sand and rocks. Flood and ebb affect the lagoon which is a mix of sea and fresh water, carrying nutritious foodstuff, coveted by seals and eider ducks, into the lagoon. The Jökulsárlón lagoon is situated on Breiðamerkursandur, between the Vatnajökull National Park and Höfn in Hornafjörður.
The lagoon formed when Jökulsá river ran straight
down from underneath the great glacier,
approx. one and a half km to the sea.
Since 1950 the glacier has pulled back
steadily, forming an ever-growing
lagoon.