This moss-covered canyon in the Icelandic highlands lies at the edge of the Vatnajökull ice cap. With towering waterfalls up to 120 meters (394 feet) high and rugged rock walls, it looks like a scene from a fairytale. This dramatic landscape was shaped by both volcanic and glacial forces and harbors a unique ecosystem. Here, a meltwater stream from the Vatnajökull ice cap drains into a canyon that reaches 400 meters (1,300 feet) in depth. Two of Iceland’s most active volcanoes, Grímsvötn and Bárðarbunga, lie beneath the ice cap, which reaches up to 1,000 meters (3,200 feet) in thickness.

Constantly high humidity has transformed the canyon over time into a living painting of moss cushions. These pioneer plants thrive on volcanic basalt and obsidian, a form of volcanic glass. The mosses form dense, vivid green carpets and are remarkably well adapted to the harsh environmental conditions. They are among the oldest groups of land plants on Earth and possess an extraordinary ability to survive periods of dryness by absorbing water directly from the air and precipitation.

As they grow, the mosses gradually contribute to the formation of organic soil, store considerable amounts of water, and provide habitat for countless insects. These, in turn, attract birds and predators such as the Arctic fox. The mosses therefore do far more than create an enchanting green carpet for the eye. They form a quiet ecological foundation for the entire canyon, revealing the remarkable resilience of life under extreme conditions and playing an essential role in the gradual development of stable ecosystems in Iceland’s highlands.