Trifter

Being a volcanic island in the North Atlantic Ocean, Iceland has all the ingredients for waterfalls like mountains, rainfall and glaciers. Each year the glaciers are warmed by the North Atlantic Current and feed the waterfalls found in the Northern parts of the island. Here are most of the great waterfalls of Northern Iceland.

Dettifoss

Dettifoss is located in the Jokulsargljufur National Park in the northeast part of Iceland and is roughly 328 feet wide and 144 feet high. Dettifos is fed by the Jokulsa a Fjollum River whose source is the Vatnajokull Glacier. Dettifoss is the largest volume waterfalls in Europe and one of the greatest volume waterfalls in the world. 

The river carved out a magnificent canyon seen here just downriver from Dettifoss.

Godafoss

Godafoss means Waterfalls of the Gods in Icelandic. Located in North-Central Iceland, Godafoss drops some 39 feet spaced out over a 98 foot width.

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Godafoss is famous in Iceland as the place where lawspeaker Þorgeirr Ljósvetningagoði threw the idols of pagan gods after declaring himself a Christian in the year 999 or 1000. Hence the name Waterfalls of the Gods.

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Selfoss

Image via Wikipedia

Situated not far upstream from Dettifoss is another beautiful waterfall called Selfoss. Also along the Jokulsa a Fjollum River and fed by the Vatnajokull Glacier, Selfoss is not as spectacular as Dettifoss but is noted for its horseshoe shape and power.

Just 36 feet high, Selfoss spreads out well over 300 feet or more depending on the season. In the summer when glacial melt is high the flow over Selfoss can spread out for quite a distance.

Image via Wikipedia

Aldeyjarfoss

Image via Wikipedia

Aldeyjarfoss is located in northern Iceland in the Highlands of Iceland region. Set amongst ancient lava fields and basalt columns, Aldeyjarfoss is fed by the Skjalfandafljt River and is noted for the contrast of the glacially fed white water flowing over the black basalt columns. The height of Aldeyjarfoss is some 66 feet.

Image by ciamabue via Flickr

Hafragilsfoss

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Hafragilsfoss is also located along the Jokulsa a Fjollum River downstream from mighty Dettifoss. Hafragilsfoss falls some 89 feet with great power and from above one can see the Jokulsagljufur Canyon the Jokulsa a Fjollum River carved out above and below the falls.

Urridafoss

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Uridafoss is located in the Katlar section of the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon on a tributary of the Jokulsa a Fjollum River. This cascading waterfall is not as powerful as its cousins along the main river but is pretty nevertheless amongst the foliage and rocks.

For more great waterfalls see Beautiful Waterfalls of Letchworth State Park and Beautiful Waterfalls of Treman State Park.

To see the largest man-made waterfalls in the world built by the Romans in 271 BC see Marmore Falls: Ancient Rome’s Beautiful Gift to the World.