selfoss
selfoss Lexical Profile
• noun
A town in southern Iceland located on the banks of the Ölfusá river, serving as a prominent regional center of commerce, agriculture, and small industries.
"During our road trip along the Ring Road, we stopped in Selfoss to gather supplies before heading deeper into southern Iceland."
A broad, horseshoe-shaped waterfall on the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum in northern Iceland, situated just upstream from the more famous Dettifoss.
"We hiked up the canyon to see Selfoss, marveling at the sheer volume of glacial water tumbling over the basalt columns."
Word Nuance & Usage
In Icelandic geography, 'Selfoss' most commonly refers to the major town in southern Iceland, but it is also the name of a notable waterfall in the northern part of the country, which can sometimes cause confusion for travelers.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Icelandic 'Selfoss', a compound of 'sel' (shieling or shed) and 'foss' (waterfall). The southern town was named after a nearby farm, which in turn took its name from a rapid on the Ölfusá river.