Incredible Iceland "on the shelves". Waterfalls

As promised in various descriptions and reports with guidebooks, this place is not part of the Earth - it is some kind of alien object that fell into a distant part of the ocean - partly cooled down, and in places still gurgling with hot insides.

However, what we saw defies any description; no photographs can convey the harshness and pristine nature of the earth that you see with your own eyes and understand with all your senses at the same time. Of course, in other places on the planet you can see volcanoes, geysers, glaciers, and mountains. But it seems that only here, in Iceland, all this is collected in such a small space at the same time.

Talking about Iceland without photographs is pointless, just like showing photos without telling a story at the same time. Most guidebooks are built on a route principle, as are reports. I’ll try to do it differently - I’ll distribute the photos according to “interests”. So, first -

WATERFALLS

Waterfalls, bitch, are beautiful. And still different. There are small ones, a meter and a half high:

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There are unique ones - for example, the highest waterfall in Europe - 198 meters - Glymur. It is practically not completely visible from any point, and the road to it is “deadly dangerous” (as it is written on the sign at the parking lot 4 km before the place) - along rocky screes, caves and log bridges.

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Apparently, that’s why tourists don’t come here - we got there by accident after reading a small guide in English :))

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We found the most unvisited waterfall in Iceland - almost only the owners of the country house, from which it can only be seen, enjoy it - we found it thanks to the age-old habit of climbing where we shouldn’t:

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Seljalandsfoss waterfall - behind it you can walk along the path under the cliff - a fairly conventional entertainment, since the path is made of ankle-deep mud.

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Skogafoss waterfall is the country's calling card - the most visited and most photo-quoted waterfall in Iceland. The water sheet is 25 meters wide and 60 meters high, and below, along the river, there is a bank of black sand.

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Few people immediately understand that this white ribbon on the slope is a waterfall. There is very tasty coffee in the establishment under the mountain.

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There are narrow waterfalls, almost in one stream:

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And there are wide ones, the widest waterfall in Europe (it seemed to me so - the widest was in Latvia) - Gullfoss - Golden Waterfall:

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It was extremely difficult to resist getting close to every waterfall we encountered along the way - it would seem that everyone had already seen all sorts of options for water falling from stones - but you approach the next creation of nature and you gasp in amazement. It’s not for nothing that they say that you can forever look at three things: how the water runs, how the fire burns, and how others work.

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The slope of the ridge, stretching for many kilometers and disappearing into the distance, is all cut up with streams like these with waterfalls (there are hundreds, thousands of them!).

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As they say (c), the waterfall with the highest water flow in Europe is Dettifoss. The weather that day was not good, there was no sun and it was very cold, 6 degrees. But there were no people. At all. In principle, Iceland is not crowded anyway, even taking into account the tourist season (you can sometimes drive along their main circular road for an hour and not see a single car), but in this case there was NO ONE AT ALL. Although it is one of the most visited places in the country.

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Just a wide sliver over the ford:

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Gudafoss - the waterfall of God - is famous for the fact that pagan idols were thrown into its waters by Harald Bluetooth (bluetooth!!!) when the Icelanders adopted Christianity in the year 1000.

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My most successful photo of running water, IMHO. The waterfall itself is small, but it seems that the water is terribly seething and foaming.

Waterfall – perhaps the most picturesque in all of Iceland. A 60-meter column of water rushing down with a noisy seething is an amazingly beautiful sight. Images of this place can be found everywhere - in books, tourist brochures, advertising calendars, and not only in Iceland, but throughout Europe.

The special thing about Seljalandsfoss is that it is very easy to observe. There is a deep indentation behind it, allowing tourists to enjoy the beauty of the falling water from different angles. The waterfall is especially beautiful in the evening, when the rays of the setting sun, mixing with the greenery of rock mosses, dissolve in the falling waters. The impressions from the evening view are so vivid that they even had to set up a special camp at the foot for those who would like to stay here overnight, so as not to miss the pictures of rare beauty.

Another popular waterfall among tourists in Iceland is Gullfoss . Translated from Icelandic, it is called “golden”. Anyone can be convinced of the veracity of this name by seeing this beauty of nature on a sunny day - it is truly a golden stream.

On the river Jökulsau au Fjödlum, located in northeast Iceland, is the legendary Detifoss - the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Without seeing it yourself, it is impossible to imagine the full power of the water flow almost 100 meters wide. Being next to this masterpiece of nature, you can experience dual feelings - from breathtaking surprise and respect for such greatness, to the impression of the beginning of some kind of natural disaster. After all, the overall height and deafening roar created by falling columns of water make a person freeze and completely discourage.

An ancient legend says that many centuries ago, an unknown Viking was looking for a place to store his treasure and found a cave hidden from prying eyes by a powerful stream of water. Many years later, a boy accidentally found hidden treasures, but unfortunately they were enchanted. The boy managed to carry away only one ring and no one else could find this treasure.

If you look into the local museum, you can see with your own eyes the legendary ring hidden by an ancient Viking behind a waterfall on the Skoug River. That's what it's called - . Thanks to a beautiful legend, he became one of business cards countries of ice.

Another legendary waterfall in Iceland - . It is located on the Skjalfandafljout River in the northern part of the island, and is famous not so much for its beauty and size as for its inextricable connection with Icelandic history. Around 1000 AD, the pagan Viking heirs converted to Christianity and threw their rejected idols into these churning waters. From then on the name came - “Waterfall of the Gods”.

As already noted, waterfalls in Iceland there is a great variety and even despite the small size of the country, it is not always possible to see everything. You should not limit yourself to standard excursions and popular places, because the nature of the island is so amazing that passing by many beauties would be simply an unforgivable mistake. Just look at such turbulent streams as Joksaraurfoss , Svartifoss or Glymur . Moreover, the latter proudly bears the title of the highest waterfall in all of Europe.

About the beautiful northern country many people dream. One of the main advantages of Iceland is its magnificent waterfalls. We talk about ten of the most beautiful.

Kirkjufellsfoss

You've probably seen this landscape in numerous photographs. This small waterfall is located near Mount Kirkjufell, in the town of Grundarfjörður on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Local photographers are sure that the ideal time to photograph the waterfall is a summer evening.

Hraunfossar

This stunningly beautiful waterfall is located next to Borgarfjord in western Iceland. Its waters flow to the glacier of the Khvitau River. In autumn you can see interesting color contrasts here.

Bruarfoss

Bruarfoss is a series of small waterfalls on the Bruara River, in the Grímsnes region, a true gem of Iceland. A river splitting into thousands of small streams, the deep blue color of the water - this landscape will be a godsend for any photographer.

Svartifoss

The waterfall is located in Skaftafell, which is part of the Vatnajökull National Park in southeast Iceland. The picturesque waterfall inspired the architecture of Hallgrimskirkja Church in Reykjavik and the famous sculpture by Richard Serra, which is located on the island of Videy.

Hrafnabjargafoss

Hrafnabjargafoss is located on the mighty Skjaulvandafljout River in Northern Iceland. The best time to shoot here is winter. Just look at this snow geometry!

Aldeyjarfoss

This waterfall with a 20-meter cascade is one of the most beautiful. White cap of snow, dark basalt pillars and blue water- the traditional palette of the harsh Icelandic nature, which so attracts photographers.

Godafoss

This is one of the most famous waterfalls in the country with a height of 12 and a width of 30 meters. It is famous for the fact that in the 10th century, when the inhabitants of the country adopted Christianity, pagan idols were thrown into it. Hence the name of the waterfall: from the Icelandic goð - “god”.

Gullfoss

The 32-meter “golden waterfall” is located on the mighty Hvitau River, in the Haukadalur Valley in southern Iceland. It is so beautiful that it is included in the top main attractions of the country.

Skogafoss

Skógafoss is a popular destination for travelers along the south coast of Iceland. 60 meters wide and 25 meters high, this is one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. Photographers should be aware that on sunny days, single or even double rainbows appear here.

(Seljalandsfoss)

Seljalandsfoss is another popular waterfall that is a must-see if you're traveling along the country's south coast. Its stream is narrow and long, and the uniqueness of the waterfall is that you can literally follow it, choosing an interesting angle.

Photo: Francesco Riccardo Iacomino

What comes to mind when you think of Iceland? Personally, I like the singer Björk with her strange iridescent melodies. You can also imagine snow-covered cliffs and plains, geysers and volcanoes, glaciers and lakes, in a word - wild northern nature untouched by civilization. Iceland is a small island country washed by four oceans: the Atlantic Ocean, the Greenland and Norwegian Seas and the Denmark Strait. Accordingly, the nature here is very diverse and unusual, and the sights are stunning. Today I will tell you about the rebellious element - waterfalls. Let's make a small ranking of the most famous.

Rainbow in a stream of clear water

Because Iceland is Mountain country with large differences in landscape heights, on its territory you can admire countless waterfalls, which are considered the most beautiful in the world.

Skógafoss

Skógafoss can be safely placed at the top of the ranking of the most beautiful Icelandic waterfalls. It falls from a huge height (more than 60 m) in the south of the country. The name of this masterpiece of nature was given by the nearby village of Skoudar. The mass of fresh water originates upstream of the Skou River, namely from the glacier. The width of the waterfall is 25 m. This waterfall is also famous for the fact that numerous splashes of water falling from a great height create several beautiful rainbows at once. Tourists love this place.

It is not one of the highest, but without a doubt, it is a very picturesque and long waterfall, which can rather be called a cascade. It falls to the ground in the central part of the country, flowing between layers of tectonic plates. Previously, there was a natural basalt bridge over the waterfall, which made the natural element even more picturesque, but during the flood in 1992, the bridge was demolished by water. And yet, the crystal clear water running over the mossy stones is very attractive to tourists.

This is the most powerful waterfall in European territory. See the magnificent water layers of the glacial wild falls. It falls on a river with the unpronounceable name Jokulsau au Fjodlum, in the northeast of the country. The height of the waterfall is 44 m, width is 100 m, and the volume of falling water is 500 cubic meters per second. Impressive?

The water of Dettifoss is colored white (milky), this is due to the fact that the glacier from which the raging monster originates has a chalky composition.

It is famous for its walls made of black basalt, from which it got its name, which translates as “fall of darkness.” The height of the waterfall is 20 meters.

A two-level waterfall flows across the entire width of the Khvitau River. There is constant thick fog and twilight above and around him. This full-blown natural phenomenon is included in everything excursion programs in Iceland.

You can see it in the southwest of the country without even leaving the highway, because the height of this monster is 60 meters! Streams of water fall to the ground with a deafening roar, forming bright rainbows.

One hundred meters wide but not very high (only 11 meters), Selfoss is located on the Jökulsau au Fjodlum River in close proximity to another waterfall, Dettifoss, which is two hundred meters downstream. A thick, beautiful fog rises from the bottom of the waterfall; tourists love to take pictures in these places.

Double waterfall flowing from the Hekla River. In addition to its unusual shape, it is also famous for its healing, tasty water, which you can scoop directly from the resulting bowl and drink.

One of the highest waterfalls is 122 meters high! The surroundings around the cascading streams of water are very dramatic - black basalt rocks, which is why the water below also appears black. 3-4 rainbows constantly “live” in the water shroud above the waterfall.

And finally - the highest waterfall. This is Glymur (“Shimmering”), it is higher than the Cheops pyramid - its height is 196 meters! This is a two-level waterfall, overcoming various grottoes, gorges and huge boulders on its way. There are many caves around the waterfall; excursions are available there.

Our rating is completed by the famous Icelandic waterfalls Dinjandi. Look at the photo - its shape forms a perfect trapezoid. Streams of water cascade down, and it is a magical sight. At the top the trapezoid is 30 meters wide, while at the bottom it is already 60. In fact, there are seven small waterfalls totaling 100 meters in height. You can go up and down along the stream; for this purpose, stairs are built on the slopes.

It’s impossible to list all the unique waterfalls in a short article, because there are dozens of them, and they all have their own flavor. Special “waterfall” tours are carried to Iceland so that tourists can cover as many of these amazing natural creatures as possible in one trip and not be distracted by other attractions.

Some of them are located in hard-to-reach and remote areas, but true connoisseurs of water flows still get to them and take stunning photographs of this formidable, but such a beautiful element.

Volcanic activity is the main architect of Iceland's spectacular landscapes. Volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago have created amazing rock formations that provide a picturesque natural setting for the country's many spectacular waterfalls. It is they - the waterfalls of Iceland - that are the topic of an interesting article.

Picturesque cascades are formed when water flows cross channels and canyons along which hot lava once flowed. For many tourists Iceland waterfalls- the most attractive natural attractions for which it is worth planning a trip to this country.

Close to Reykjavik

Iceland waterfalls- one of the main attractions of this country. Many of them can be reached on day trips from Reykjavik.

Closest to the capital is Trollafoss, a small waterfall, the top of which can be reached by walking from the highway along a short walking path. It's a little more difficult to get down, because you have to overcome a steep path leading to the base of the hill. Signs will help you find the most successful descent option.

The further route to the waterfalls of Iceland should be taken along the Thingvallavegur road, which allows you to get to Thingvellir, where the Ehsaraurfoss waterfall is located.

The park also has plenty of other natural attractions that are worth admiring. This part of Iceland lies on a fault between the European and North American tectonic plates. Therefore, here you can admire the impressive landscapes that are the result of volcanic activity and the displacement and breaking of rocks during earthquakes.

To the north-west of Thingvellir Park there is a route to Glymur Waterfall. With a height of 196 m, it is the second highest waterfall in Iceland. The path to it is quite difficult.

Glymoor Waterfall

From the south (the path on the right after parking) you can admire the most picturesque views of Glymoor, but this route is more difficult than from the north. The northern path is interesting due to the passage of a huge arch, which is like a through cave. You can only get down the waterfall along the Botns River, but this is a dangerous forbidden route.

Moving west, you can admire the Hrounfossar and Barnafoss waterfalls. Hraunfossar is a series of small waterfalls that form cascading streams that flow down the Haldmundarrhein lava field.

Continuing along the path you can reach Barnafoss. This is a series of waterfalls that are formed by the waters of the Khvitau River cascading down through a narrow rocky gorge. Fans of caving can visit a cave with lava pillars near the Barnafoss waterfall.

Journey to the East

Traveling east from Reykjavik, you can visit one of Iceland's most popular waterfalls, Gullfoss. The water flows of the Khvitau River fall along two steps 11 and 21 m high, which are located at an angle of 90° to each other.

The best views of Gullfoss can be enjoyed within just a couple of minutes walk from either of the two parking lots. This Iceland waterfall is one of the popular a tourist route“Golden Ring”, so it’s always crowded here. But Gullfoss's popularity has less to do with its impressive views and more to do with its ease of access.

Aegissufoss

Arbaejarfoss

In the nearby gorge next to it is the Granni waterfall. Against the backdrop of the lifeless landscape of the Icelandic plateau, the water cascades flowing from the plain into a deep gorge look especially impressive.

Moving along the southern part of the ring road, you can visit several more beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. Seljalandsfoss will be the first on the way. This is a popular attraction in Iceland, tours to which are often offered to tourists.

The deep setback behind Seljalandsfoss waterfall allows tourists to freely admire this landmark from any angle.

From here you can continue your journey to national park Skaftafell, where there are also many picturesque waterfall cascades. The most famous of them is Svartifoss.

Its rushing waters flow down lava channels of dark basalt rocks, giving rise to the name “Black Falls.” Continuing on the path, you can visit three more waterfalls and reach the edge of the Skaftafellsjökull glacier.

Waterfalls in the north and west of Iceland

There are many waterfalls in the northern part of the country. Among them, the most famous is Dettifoss, which is the most powerful waterfall in Europe.

The Jökulsau a Fjödlum River originates from the Vatnajökull glacier and forms several waterfalls along its path.

Dettifoss is the largest among them. Its width is about 100 m and its height is 44 m. This Icelandic waterfall ranks first in Europe in terms of the volume of flowing water.

In the west of Iceland there are also several waterfalls, between which you can create a convenient travel route. These include: Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall

Bjarnafoss Waterfall

On the most western outskirts Iceland has several waterfalls, which are very difficult to get to from Reykjavik. Djupavikurfoss falls from a cliff straight into the sea.

Not far from it is the town of Djupavik, where you can find a cozy hotel for relaxation.

It is even more difficult to get to the Dynjandi and Fjallfoss waterfalls. You can visit these waterfalls in Iceland only as part of an organized group. excursion tours including a visit to the western part of the country.

You can get there on your own by ferry from Baldur. But even in this case, to get to the waterfalls themselves, you will have to travel a considerable distance by car along difficult roads.