Iceland is not that big an island. Its maximum length from north to south is only 310 kilometers, and from east to west is 500. There is no place for such long and large rivers as the mainland Danube, Rhine or Dnieper. But the entire map of Iceland is covered in blue veins. Due to the humid North Atlantic climate on the island a lot of precipitation, and the neighborhood with the Arctic Circle caused the emergence of huge glaciers, covering a tenth of the country. These two factors contribute to a large number of full-flowing rivers, and the mountainous terrain does not allow them to flow quietly, time and again forming violent rapids and high waterfalls. All of them are diverse and beautiful, attracting hundreds and thousands of tourists every year. In this article we will introduce you to the most interesting and unusual waterfalls in Iceland.
Since Iceland has the most everything, it is not surprising that Europe’s most powerful waterfall is also located here.
Dettifoss (Icelandic for “waterfall”) is located in the northeast of the island and is the middle link in a chain of the three largest waterfalls on the Jökulsau-au-Fjödlum River (“glacial river in the mountains”). Its size is really impressive: width – about 100 meters, height – 45. The route to Dettifoss is usually taken from the port town of Husavik in the north (this is where people come to watch the whales) through the unique Asbirgi Canyon.
In the southern part of the island, not far from the capital, flows the river Hvytau. It is notable for the most popular and favorite tourist waterfall – Gudlfoss (“golden waterfall”).
This attraction together with the Tingvellir National Park and nearby geysers form the “Golden Circle” of Iceland. The waterfall is interesting because it consists of two steps (11m and 21m high), arranged at right angles to each other, after which the river plunges into a deep gorge.
Güdlfoss still exists today thanks to Sigriudur Thomasdóttir, the daughter of a local farmer. In the 1920s, the waterfall was nearly sold for the construction of a power plant. Sigriudür actively fought to preserve Güdlfoss and even threatened to throw herself into the waterfall. The authorities realized that she was not joking, after which it was taken back into the hands of the state and placed under protection. This story is reminded by a memorial stone near the waterfall.
The Skouga River originates in the south of Iceland, between the Eyjafjallajökull and Myrdalsjökull glaciers, and flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Skógafoss Waterfall is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland. It is here where the popular Löygavegür hiking trail ends.
The waterfall is 25 meters wide and falls from a 60-meter cliff, scattering into thousands of splashes, which, hanging in the air, shimmer in the sun all the colors of the rainbow.
Legend has it that the first Viking to settle in these parts hid the treasure in a cave behind a waterfall. Years later, a young Icelandic boy found the chest. As soon as he took hold of the ring at the end of the chest, it disappeared. The ring remained in his hands, was given to the local church and used as a doorstop. Don’t believe it? You can see it at the Skowgar Museum.
But the Skouga River boasts more than just the splendor of Skougafoss. The aforementioned waterfall is the last one on its way to the ocean, and upstream there are more than 20 more not as high, but no less beautiful ones.
We will see them all on our hike through Iceland – Mars Landing. Not only the waterfalls, but also the most beautiful rocky canyon decorated with green moss will accompany us all the way.
Not many people know about it (even the Russian-speaking Google before us didn’t know)! Actually, the highest waterfall in Iceland is located in Vatnajökull National Park in the southeast of the island and was only discovered in 2007 and measured in 2011. It is located at the junction of the Morsaurjökull glacial tongue from the Vatnajökull ice cap. There is a steep rock, originally hidden under the glacier. But, due to global warming, Morsaurjöküdl has melted so much that it “broke away” from the ice cap and the rock wall became bare. From its 227-meter height the meltwater of Vatnajökull rushes down, forming several waterfall ribbons. The river, which is formed by the meltwater of the glacial tongue, is called Morsau. The waterfall, Morsaurfoss, was named after it by a free vote. One of the few pictures of this waterfall.
More famous is the second highest waterfall in Iceland – Glymur, which until 2011 was considered the highest. Its height is 196 meters.
A very beautiful, unusual and popular waterfall. What could be so unusual about a waterfall? In particular, the color and shape of the cliff from which it rises.
Hexagonal black basalt columns were created inside a lava flow that cooled very, very slowly. The rock crystallized and took on such an unusual shape. The pressure on the upper pillars is very great and they often fail and break. The bottom of the waterfall is strewn with their debris. The black waterfall is undoubtedly one of the most amazing and unusual in Iceland.
Seljalandsfoss can be called the most beautiful and scenic waterfall of Iceland.
It has one feature that turns it from an ordinary Icelandic waterfall into a very unusual and beautiful one. You can quietly walk around the stream of water, observing it from the inside.
Particularly beautiful in the running streams plays the setting sun.
The waterfall is located on the Seljalandsau River, 60 meters high. We can walk behind the waterfall when we return from Glacier Lagoon to Reykjavik. The waterfall is almost right by the highway and the bus stops here for half an hour.
Another popular tourist attraction is the Godafoss (“waterfall of the gods”).
It is located on the Skjaulfandafljout River, fifty kilometers from the city of Akureri, the largest in the northern part of the country and a favorite among tourists. The water flow is 30 meters wide and falls from a height of 9-17 meters. It is not high, but very beautiful waterfall with turquoise water, in winter is no less attractive than in summer.
According to legend, around the year 1000, when the state recognized Christianity, the pagan idol gods were thrown into the stormy waters of Godafoss, hence the name. One of the stained-glass windows of the cathedral in Akureri depicts this story.
Dunyandi (“raging, rumbling”) or Fjadlfoss (“mountain waterfall”) is not only the largest on the Westferdir (“western fjords”) peninsula, but also a very beautiful waterfall on the small Dünyandisau River.
It does not fall as a wall, but spills over lava steps, the total height of which is 100 meters; the lava here is about 13 million years old. The waterfall is 30 meters wide at the top and 60 meters wide at the bottom.
In the lava field, in the western part of the island, the Hvitau River rises. It is fed by both springs and a glacier, the flow is powerful and swift. But only until it meets porous rocks in its path. The waters of the Hvitau seep into them one kilometer deep! Then they gradually return to the outside in the form of numerous (over 100) small waterfalls flowing straight out of the lava and flowing into the Borgarfjordur River.
The foaming streams of Hröinfossar (“lava waterfalls”) stretch for 900 meters and are a delight to the eye and ear.
One kilometer upstream from Dettifoss is Selfoss, which is only 10 meters high.
This makes the waterfall no less impressive: the river, 100 meters wide, rises from a flat basalt plate here and, bypassing Dettifoss, continues to Hafragilsfoss – the third of the largest waterfalls on the river, 91 meters wide and 27 meters high.
Here the channel enters the Khafragil Gorge, which is the name of the waterfall. The banks around the gorge are decorated with greenery and seem to be protected by rocks on both sides. There are four smaller waterfalls downstream.
This is just a small part of the amazing and unique waterfalls of Iceland. Many of them don’t even have names, but they are stunningly beautiful. Due to the mountainous terrain and the prevalence of volcanic rocks, along whichever river your route in Iceland lies, you are sure to meet a beautiful waterfall. Or maybe you’ll discover a new one.