Your visit to Iceland won’t be complete without taking snapshots of its amazing waterfalls. The country has a climate that produces frequent rain, snow, and large glaciers that melt in the summer and feed many rivers.
No wonder Iceland has numerous waterfalls in all forms and sizes, here are the first ten waterfalls that you should see in this breathtaking country.
1. Kirkjufellsfoss
Kirkjufellsfoss is a 5-meter high waterfall that channels the glacier meltwater of the Snæfellsjökull. It’s not that high but it has a couple of levels and the water is channeled into three different spouts.
2. Hraunfossar
This series of waterfalls located in Husafell in the west county of Iceland flows out a distance of about 900 meters out of the Hallmundarhraunof, a craggy lava field that formed when a volcano erupted under a glacier. That’s why it deserves its name Hraunfossar which means “Lava Falls”.
3. Bruarfoss
Situated along the road 355 of Iceland, Bruarfoss is a small waterfall that is known for its blue waters. It is hidden between Geysir and Þingvellir Park and finding for it can be a bit of trouble.
4. Svartifoss
Known as “Black Fall”, Svartifoss is one of the popular sights in Skaftafell National Park. This 1.5-km waterfall is surrounded by spectacular dark lava columns. The base of the waterfall is known for its sharp rocks.
5. Hrafnabjargafoss
Hrafnabjargafoss is one of the three waterfalls found in the Skjalfandafljot glacier river in north Iceland. The two other waterfalls found here are Aldeyjarfoss and Godafoss.
6. Aldeyjarfoss
This is another waterfall that you can find in the Skjalfandafljot glacier river. This waterfall, 20 meters in height, is surrounded by black basalt columns which make the entire landscape worth the camera shot.
7. Godafoss
One of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland, Godafoss is also a waterfall found in the Skjalfandafljot glacier river and stands with a height of 12 meters and a width of over 30 meters. This “Waterfall of the Gods” was also nicknamed by one local as “The Beauty”.
8. Gullfoss
Gullfoss waterfall is located in South Iceland on the Hvítá (White) river which is fed by Iceland´s second biggest glacier, the Langjökull. This waterfall, which is a part of the Golden Circle tour, drops down 32 meters into a narrow river gorge with walls that reach up to 70 meters in height.
9. Skogafoss
The Skogafoss is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland with a height of 60 meters and a width of 25 meters. It is located at the Skoga River, south of Iceland, and it is a favorite spot for campers and hikers.
10. Seljalandsfoss
30 kilometers west from Skogar, the unique 63-meter Seljalandsfoss will leave you speechless. Its cliff was said to be where the former coastline of Iceland was. Visitors can follow a hiking trail that leads to the back of the falls.
Have you seen any of the waterfalls included in the list? Which one is your favorite?
Megan Romer is a Louisiana-based writer specializing in travel, food, music, and art. Megan’s writing has appeared in Thrillist, TimeOut, TripSavvy, Delish, No Depression Roots Music Journal, Louisiana Life Magazine, and more. When she’s not writing, she’s singing, cooking, and beating her 9-year-old son at video games.