- Address: 350 km from Reykjavik, Iceland;
- Height: 44 m;
- Number of cascades: 1.
The waterfall Dettifoss located in the north-eastern region of Iceland is one of the most beautiful and the most grandiose in Europe. Admire incredible, rumbling streams of water, falling with great speed, thousands of tourists come.
In addition, it is surrounded by the wonderful northern landscapes of the Jökülsaulglujur National Park, giving Dettifos a special flavor.
Location and features
Waterfall Dettifoss (Iceland), a photo of which is represented in the gallery of our resource, is located on the river Yokulsau-au-Fjödlum. It is formed by the meltwater of the Vatnayokudl glacier . Downstream, the estuary significantly widens, and it is filled with water from a variety of other sources, including thawed.
Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and not just in Iceland, on average every second from a rock falls 200 cubic meters of water. Although at some points, for example, when melting snow or after rains, this figure reaches 500 cubic meters.
The water here is unpleasant, brown with shades of brown, and when the flood period sets in, it becomes generally black, which creates an amazing contrast with the white spray.
The reason for the black color of the water is the local black dunes that have become such because of the volcanic ash.
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Surrounding landscapes
On all sides the waterfall of Dettifoss is surrounded by a bit of gloomy, but picturesque, truly Icelandic landscapes:
- desert plains;
- basalt rocks;
- black sand.
Although there is a small green oasis nearby, formed due to myriad sprays, falling on the surface of the soil and moisturizing it.
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When is the best time to visit the waterfall?
The ideal time will be the end of spring and summer months, because it is during this period that turbulent flows become especially powerful!
The roar of falling water streams can hardly be stunned, and standing next to the waterfall, the vibration of the earth is clearly felt.
Note that visitors here are not so safe, because to ascend to the top point, along the gorge we have to move along a narrow and slippery path, without having a support for the hands - there's nothing to hold on! And if the wind also blows, then a dense wave of fine splashes covers the tourists. Therefore, to examine it from the top, in close proximity to the river, not all are solved.
How to get there?
The waterfall Dettifoss is located almost 350 kilometers from the capital of the country Reykjavik . Excursions tours are organized here. But, if you do not want to wait or depend on the tourist bus, you can rent a car and go to the waterfall yourself. And let it take a few hours for the road, but the spectacle, which has been opened to you, will fully pay back both the expenses for renting a car and the time spent!