Ausbirgi Gorge

Ausbirgi is a canyon located in the northeastern part of Iceland, near Akureyri and Husavik. This is one of the attractions of the Jökulsaurgluvur National Park.

Ausbirgi Canyon looks like a horseshoe in its shape. Its length is about 3.5 kilometers, width is 1.1 kilometers, and the height of the walls reaches 100 meters. Ausbirgi is one of the most beautiful places in the north of Iceland. About the middle of the canyon is divided into two parts by a 25-meter rock formation with vertical walls called Eyjan, which translates as “island”. The canyon was formed due to glacial floods on the Jökülsau-au-Fjodlum River, which occurred twice after the end of the last ice age. Now the Jökülsau-au-Fjodlum river flows two kilometers to the east. According to one legend, Ausbergi Canyon got its unusual shape when Sleipnir, Odin’s horse, stepped here with one of his eight legs.