The river system of Hvítá, Sogid and Ölfusá extends from the mountains to the beaches and from the glaciers to the sea, connecting Kerlingafjöll, Gullfoss, Geysir, Skálholt, Ármannsfell, Thingvellir and Eyrarbakki.  For thousands of years the rivers have followed their courses, delighting Sigridur of Brattholt with their beauty and power, while posing a threat to travellers, rich and poor alike.  Many people received a soaking, others were even drowned, and there were people who claimed that mysterious monsters dwelt in these streams.  Today the waters still flow from the mountains to the sea, a continuing source of wonder and mystery.

The watershed of the Ölfusá river region covers some 6100 square kilometres, or about one seventeenth of the entire area of Iceland.  With each passing second they empty some 440 cubic metres of fresh water into the ocean, amounting to a total daily flow of 38 million tons.