Iceland - 10 - Waterfalls 2

11-15 August,  23 August - 4 September, 2025

Before I get to the really big waterfalls, there are two impressive not-as-big fosses.

Skógafoss

11 August

Skógafoss is just off the Ring Road in south Iceland between Eyjafjallajökull (the volcano that famously erupted in 2010 and closed airspace in most of Europe for a week) and Mýrdalsjökull, where the Katla volcano lurks under the ice. It's impressive and popular with tourists.

There is a trail with lots of steps to the top of Skógafoss. It was a sunny day, so we had a rainbow at the top. The rainbow at the bottom was not as photogenic.

Dynjandi

2 September

Dynjandi as seen from the road in the West Fjords. There are seven named waterfalls in the short river  below Dynjandi.

Dynjandi is the most impressive waterfall in the West Fjords. The name means "thundering noise".

Strompgljufrafoss is one of the seven waterfalls below Dynjandi (at top).

Now for the really HUGE waterfalls.

Gullfoss

Gullfoss is on the "Golden Circle", meaning it's a relatively short drive from Reykjavik and heavily visited.

24 August

The protection and preservation of Gullfoss was the start of Iceland's environmental movement. Sigriður Tómasdottir from Brattholt (the farm around Gullfoss) was resolute in her determination to save Gullfoss from becoming a hydroelectric site.

Mist rising from Gullfoss.

Gullfoss

The canyon below Gullfoss.

Dettifoss

28 August

Dettifoss is a huge waterfall in north Iceland.

The muddy waters of Dettifoss are nearly indistinguishable from the basaltic river bank. My eyeglasses fogged up in the mist, leaving behind very dirty glasses when the water evaporated!

It was a sunny day, so a rainbow formed in the mist from Dettifoss.

Selfoss

Selfoss is a few hundred meters upstream of Dettifoss, but is much less visited. We think it's an even more impressive waterfall. (This Selfoss should not be confused with the town of the same name in south Iceland.)

28 August

Approaching Selfoss on the trail from Dettifoss.

Selfoss and the very muddy river below it.

Another perspective on Selfoss.

Basalt cliffs along the muddy river between Dettifoss and Selfoss.

Goðafoss

30 August

Goðafoss is on the Ring Road between Akureyri and Mývatn, so it is another heavily visited site. The water was muddy, but not to the extent we saw at Dettifoss.

There is a parking lot on both sides of the river, each with a slightly different perspective.

The walls of the canyon below Goðafoss are basalt, but the lower portion is heavily folded and distorted.

Distorted basalt capped with more typical basaltic columns.