The land of "ice and fire" Iceland is known not only for its active volcanoes, black sandy beaches, hot springs, but also for roaring waterfalls. These rushing streams of water fascinate with their beauty, power and strength of the water element.
Each of Iceland's many waterfalls is beautiful and worth seeing. But ten of them are so amazing that they are worth it to be included in the itinerary of any traveler who finds himself in this picturesque country.
Glymour Falls Photo: Þorsteinn (Thor) -
Glimur, with a height of 198 meters, is the second highest waterfall in Iceland. It is located north of the capital, inside the Hvalfjordur fjord.
Those wishing to visit this place will need not only certain physical fitness, but also appropriate footwear. After all, the road to the waterfall and back takes more than one hour. But as a reward, travelers will receive a picturesque view not only of Glymur, but also of its surroundings with stone arches, the Botns River and the Hvalfjordur fjord.
Hengifoss is perhaps the most beautiful waterfall in East Iceland. Its waters rush impressively from a height of 128 meters down to a deep gorge.
The path to the waterfall is laid from the parking lot at Lake Lagarflout, which can be accessed by two different routes along its shores. Then there is a hike up the mountain, which takes about 50 minutes. On the way, you can watch the Litlanesfoss waterfall, which is smaller than Hengifoss in size but not beautiful, see red stripes resulting from the oxidation of iron in the soil, and enjoy relaxing on the benches along the trail.
The waterfall is located on the Hvitau River, which flows from Lake Hvitarvatn and the Langjokull Glacier. It consists of two steps, of which the second is twice as high as the first and is turned to it at an angle of 90 degrees.
"Gullfoss" translates as "golden gate" and you understand the fairness of this name by watching the waterfall in the sun. This sight is truly impressive.
The trail to the falls is part of Iceland's popular Golden Circle tour. But even an independent visit will not be difficult. After all, it is located 90 minutes from Reykjavik.
Located on the southwest coast of Iceland, this beautiful waterfall, almost 60 meters high, lies on the Seljalandsau River. The proximity to Iceland's ring road attracts many tourists here. In addition, the popularity of the waterfall is added by the ability to trace the path of the water flow. You just need to stock up on waterproof clothing. In winter, this trail is closed, as it becomes slippery and potentially dangerous for walking.
Skogafoss Falls Photo: Þorsteinn (Thor) -
The fame of this waterfall is partly due to its location. Like Seljalandsfoss, it is located next to the ring road near the village of Skogar. However, don't underestimate this wonderful waterfall.
At 60 meters high and 25 meters wide, it impresses with its power. A huge amount of splashes created by the force of the water flow create a rainbow, and sometimes more than one, allowing you to take beautiful photos.
This waterfall was discovered relatively recently. It appears to have been formed by a slight increase in temperature that caused the glacier to melt. Currently, Morsarfoss, with a height of 240 meters, is the highest waterfall in Iceland.
Svartifoss Waterfall Photo: Þorsteinn (Thor) -
Svartifoss is located in the center of Skaftafell National Park, becoming almost the main attraction. The road to it takes about 40 minutes, including the time that tourists spend contemplating three other waterfalls - Magnusarfoss, Hundafoss and Thjofafoss.
Because of the lava columns that surround Svartifoss, it is often referred to as the "black waterfall". The particular beauty of the site inspired an Icelandic architect to design the famous Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran Church in Reykjavik.
Bruarfoss is a series of small waterfalls on the Broir River that remain Iceland's "hidden" gem and are rarely visited by tourists. Here, many small, fast streams of water with contrasting color make for stunning photographs.
With a low height of 12 meters, the "waterfall of the gods" is one of the most visited in Iceland. First, Godafoss is attracting attention as a historic site. Indeed, it was in its waters that the pagan priest Thorgeir Torkelson threw down his idols in recognition of Iceland as a Christian country. Secondly, this low waterfall is 30 meters wide. Travelers come here to enjoy the impressive view of the water wall created by the rushing water flows.
Dettifoss Waterfall Photo: Þorsteinn (Thor) -
Commonly referred to as "the beast", Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, let alone Iceland. It is located on the Jökülsau-au-Fjödlum River, flowing from the largest glacier Vatnajökull. With a height of 44 meters and a width of about 100 meters, the waterfall throws out almost 200 cubic meters of water every second. Once next to him, you can feel the tremors of the earth. Impressed by the scale of the natural disaster, filmmaker Ridley Scott used Dettifoss in the main scene of Prometheus.
