Fossá – The Faroe Islands' Largest Waterfall
In broad terms, one could describe the topography of the Faroe Islands, especially in the northern part of the country, as featuring mountainous terrain and valleys of differing depths and elevations. These mountainsides are steep, marked by horizontal rock ledges, and crisscrossed by more or less vertical stripes created by streams and gradually widening as they descend towards the coastline. In the valleys, these streams often converge, forming regular rivers or pooling into freshwater lakes of various sizes. These lakes, in turn, serve as the origins of larger rivers that flow continuously towards the coast and ultimately into the sea.
The bedrock of the Faroe Islands consists of sturdy rock formations that have their origins in volcanic processes along the oceanic ridge. This ridge formed as the North American/Greenland tectonic plate gradually separated from the Eurasian plate, leading to the creation and expansion of the Atlantic Ocean. Over countless millennia, successive layers of molten lava accumulated, gradually solidifying into the characteristic black basalt. The forces of nature, including the passage of time, wind, weather, ice ages, land subsidence, and land uplift, have collectively sculpted and eroded these basalt plains until only the distinct islands we recognize today remain.
It's evident that in this type of terrain, groundwater is absent, making all the fresh water in the Faroe Islands surface water that originates from precipitation in the form of rain and snow. This water, adhering to the laws of gravity, descends relentlessly towards the sea. Our region receives abundant rainfall, and ironically, drought can occur when there is an extended period of infrequent rain.
This dynamic transformation of the landscape is readily observable during heavy rainfall. The once-muted streaks constituting the mountainside streams swell and turn frothy white, evolving into powerful torrents as they approach the coastline. We refer to this as "áarføri," a term used when the river's surge fills its banks, eroding parts of them and posing a risk of flooding.
The steep rock ledges give rise to numerous expansive waterfalls, scattered throughout the islands in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some of these waterfalls are particularly awe-inspiring when they cascade down their rocky precipices. We have previously issued stamps featuring large waterfalls, e.g., Svartifossur in Tórshavn, Múlafossur in Gásadalur and Skorá at Leynavatn.
Fossá
The largest and most impressive waterfall is Fossá, located to the south of Haldarsvík village in the northern region of Streymoy. Originating from Lake Víkarvatn, nestled in a mountain valley between the peaks of Vatnfelli and Gásafelli, this river descends through Fossdalur. Along its course, it merges with other streams until it reaches a dramatic culmination point. Here, it plunges from a towering rock precipice, approximately 140 meters above sea level, before descending onto another ledge and crashing into a jumble of rocks at the mountainside's base. From there, the water meanders its way into the sea.
During dry spells, the waterfall can span just a few meters in width. However, when the rains arrive, it truly shines, expanding to more than 30 meters in width on its uppermost two-tiered segment. The contrasting black basalt backdrop adds an extra layer of drama to the brilliant white foam. If you happen to be fortunate and find yourself nearby on a stormy, rainy day, you might witness the unique Faroese waterfall phenomenon, where the wind seizes the water and sends it soaring upwards, as if lifting its skirt, creating a captivating spectacle.
Anker Eli Petersen
