Trifter

Iceland and waterfalls just go together. This island in the North Atlantic Ocean has an abundance of spectacular waterfalls. Here are the most beautiful waterfalls located in the southern half of Iceland.

Skogafoss

Skogafoss is located in the south of Iceland where the Skoga River tumbles over former sea cliffs. Skógafoss is some 82 feet wide and has a drop of some 197 feet. On almost any sunny day Skógafoss will produce rainbows due to its wide spray area. Legend has it that the first Viking in the area buried a treasure in a cave behind Skógafoss. Easily one of, if not the most, impressive waterfalls in Iceland.

Gullfoss

Image via Wikipedia

Easily one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland and part of the Golden Circle, Gullfoss is located inland in the southwest part of Iceland. Gullfoss is fed by one of the Hvita (White) Rivers of Iceland. Gullfoss is comprised of two waterfalls with upper falls dropping some 36 feet and the lower falls dropping some 69 feet into a 105 foot deep crevice. Gullfoss is thrilling because as one approaches the falls the crevice is not visible and it appears the water simply vanishes into the earth. Gullfoss and the Hvita River were seriously considered for Hydro-electricity on more than one occasion but the falls are protected today.

Source

Haifoss

Source

Haifoss is the second tallest waterfall in Iceland with a drop of some 400 feet. Haifoss is located in the south of Iceland near Hekla Volcano, the most active volcano in Iceland today. Haifoss waterfall is fed by the Fossa River, a tributary of Iceland’s longest river, Thjorsa. Should be named Spectacularfoss.

Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls and is located on the south coast near Route 1. Seljalandsfoss is fed the Seljalandsa River and falls some 200 feet over the former coastline cliffs. Seljalandsfoss was a way point during the first leg of The Amazing Race 6 TV show on CBS in 2004.

Svartifoss

Source

Svartifoss is located in Skaftafell National Park in the south of Iceland. Svartifoss means “Black Falls” as this waterfall flows some 80 feet down over dark lava columns that were formed inside a lava flow which cooled extremely slowly, giving rise to crystallization. The overall look of Svartifoss is spectacular like something out of a Hollywood film.

Oxararfoss

Source

Oxararfoss is located in the Þingvellir National Park in southwest Iceland and is easily accessible from a nearby car park. This waterfall is actually man-made as water was diverted to flow over the cliff face centuries ago for energy use. The world’s largest man-made waterfalls is Marmore Falls built by the Romans in 271 BC.

Skoga River Waterfalls

Source

There are at least two dozen waterfalls along the Skoga River before it forms Skogafoss near the end. The color contrast is exquisite.

Gluggafoss

Source

Located not far from Seljalandsfoss, Gluggafoss is noted for the many different ways it falls off the mountain.

Kvernufoss

Source

Located not far from the much more popular Skogafoss is the quite striking and beautiful Kvernufoss.

Hundafoss

Source

Located upstream from Svartifoss is the Hundafoss or waterfall of the dogs, so named for dogs that have been swept over this falls during floods.

Magnúsarfoss

Source

Located just upstream from Hundafoss and along the trail to Svartifoss is Magnúsarfoss.

Foss á Siðu

Source

Located in southern Iceland along the Ring Road is Foss á Siðu or Waterfall of Siðu, a stunning and beautiful waterfall.

Systrafoss

Source

Systrafoss means Sister Falls and one can see why the name as the falls split near the top and flow separately down the mountain. Systrafoss is located along the Ring Road near the small town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Hjálparfoss

Source

Located near Haifoss is another waterfall not quite so spectacular but still beautiful in its own right as the river flows picturesquely between basalt columns.

For more see Beautiful Waterfalls of Northern Iceland.