List of waterfalls in Iceland

Iceland is well suited for waterfalls (Icelandic: s. foss, pl. fossar). This Nordic island country lies along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which separates North America and Europe near where the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans meet. Frequent rain and snow impact its near-Arctic location. Large glaciers exist throughout the country whose summer melts feed many rivers. As a result, it is home to a number of large and powerful waterfalls. It is estimated that there are more than 10.000 waterfalls in Iceland.[1]

Dettifoss, in Northern Iceland
Gullfoss, in Southern Iceland

North

South
  • Faxi or Vatnsleysufoss in Tungufljót river
  • Foss á Síðu
  • Gluggafoss
  • Gljúfrafoss
  • Gjáin has many small waterfalls
  • Gullfoss (Golden Falls)
  • Háifoss (High Falls)
  • Hjálparfoss
  • Merkjárfoss
  • Ófærufoss used to be noted for the natural bridge which stood above the falls, but it collapsed in 1993.
  • Seljalandsfoss
  • Skógafoss (Forest Falls)
  • Svartifoss (Black Falls) is one of the many waterfalls of Skaftafell National Park
  • Systrafoss, in Kirkjubæjarklaustur
  • Þjófafoss on the Merkurhraun lava fields
  • Öxarárfoss, at Þingvellir National Park
  • Fagrifoss, near Kirkjubæjarklaustur
  • Morsárfoss, 228m waterfall formed from the retreat of Morsárjökull that is now Iceland's tallest.[2]
  • Urriðafoss

West
  • Álafoss
  • Barnafossar (the Children's Falls) in Hvítá river
  • Glymur in the Hvalfjörður area. At 198m, it was long regarded as the tallest waterfall in Iceland until being surpassed with a new falls by Morsárjökull in 2011.
  • Hraunfossar (the Lava Falls) in birchwoods, a stone's throw from Barnafoss.

Westfjords

East
  • Hengifoss
  • Litlanesfoss, surrounded by columnar basalt, it is on the way up to Hengifoss
  • Fardagafoss near Egilsstaðir
  • Gufufoss ("Steam falls") In Seyðisfjörður
  • Klifbrekkufossar in Mjóifjörður. A beautiful row of waterfalls

List of waterfalls by height
Picture Name Height Water body Region Community Coordinates Comment
Morsárfoss 227.3 m Morsá Austurland Hornafjörður 64°06′45″N 16°53′05″W Discovered in 2007, measured in 2011;
Glymur 196 m Botnsá Vesturland Hvalfjarðarsveit 64°23′28″N 21°15′02″W Considered tallest waterfall until 2011
Hengifoss 128 m[3] Hengifossá Austurland Fljótsdalur 65°05′44″N 14°53′25″W Alternative height: 110 m
Háifoss 122 m Fossá í Þjórsárdal Suðurland Skeiða- og
Gnúpverjahreppur		 64°12′29″N 19°41′16″W Neighbour of Granni
Granni 101 m Fossá í Þjórsárdal Suðurland Skeiða- og
Gnúpverjahreppur		 64°12′33″N 19°41′00″W
Neighbour of Háifoss
Dynjandi 100 m Dynjandisá Vestfirðir Vesturbyggð 65°43′57″N 23°11′56″W Alternative name: Fjallfoss
Tallest waterfall of the Westfjords
Rjúkandi 093 m Ysta-Rjúkandi Austurland Fljótsdalshérað 65°20′05″N 15°04′55″W
between Egilsstaðir and Mývatn
Foss á Síðu 082 m Fossá Suðurland Skaftárhreppur 63°51′21″N 17°52′12″W close to Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Bjarnafoss 080 m Bjarnaá Vesturland Snæfellsbær 64°50′54″N 23°24′12″W
Fagrifoss 080 m Geirlandsá Suðurland Skaftárhreppur 63°52′01″N 18°15′00″W in Vatnajökull National Park
Skiptárfoss 080 m Skiptá Vestfirðir Reykhólahreppur
Vesturbyggð		 65°36′22″N 22°55′31″W
Þórðarfoss 080 m Þórðara Suðurland Rangárþing eystra 63°43′19″N 19°53′55″W close to Merkjárfoss
Grundarfoss 070 m Grundará Vesturland Grundarfjörður 64°54′32″N 23°13′21″W at Snæfellsnes
Systrafoss 069 m Fossá Suðurland Skaftárhreppur 63°47′09″N 18°03′35″W close to Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Seljalandsfoss 065 m Seljalandsá Suðurland Rangárþing eystra 63°36′56″N 19°59′16″W
Skógafoss 062 m Skógá Suðurland Rangárþing eystra 63°31′56″N 19°30′41″W
 
Írárfoss 060 m Írá Suðurland Rangárþing eystra 63°34′39″N 19°49′44″W
 

See also

References
  1. Icelandorg (October 28, 2023). "Waterfalls in Iceland: Names, Facts, and Features". Iceland.org – Iceland Tours, Car Rentals and Information. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  2. "Iceland's Tallest Waterfall to be Named".
  3. "Hengifoss (Fjotsdalsheidi)". European waterfalls. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
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