Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Top 10 Most Beautiful and Wonder-Falls of Iceland


Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. This European country with numerous volcanoes that erupt from time to time is of volcanic origin. The country is also famous for its scores of hot springs. In addition, it is blessed with beautiful and attractive waterfalls.

Here are the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland.

1.) Skogafoss

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Skogafoss is a beautiful waterfall located in southern part of Iceland. It is one of the country’s biggest waterfalls with a width of 25 meters and a height of 60 meters. Due to the amount of spray the waterfall consistently produces, a single or double rainbow is normally visible on sunny days.

2.) Gullfoss

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Gullfoss means Golden Falls. This fascinating waterfall is located in the Canyon of Hvita River in the southwest portion of Iceland. This beautiful waterfall is one of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions. About a kilometer above the falls it turns sharply to the left and flows down into a wide curved three-step "staircase" and then abruptly plunges in two stages (11 m and 21 m) into a crevice 32 m deep. The crevice, about 20 m wide, and 2.5 km in length, is at right angles to the flow of the river.

3.) Gooafoss

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The Gooafoss is Icelandic for waterfall of the gods or waterfall of the gooi. This waterfall is one of Iceland’s most spectacular waterfalls. It is located in the Myvatn district of North-Central Iceland. It is 12 meters in height with an impressive width of 30 meters.

4.) Hraunfossar

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Hraunfossar is a series of fascinating waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming over a distance of about 900 meters out of the Hallmundarhraun, a lava field which flowed from an eruption of one of the volcanoes lying under the glacier Langjokull. The waterfalls pour into the Hvita River from ledges of less porous rock in the lava.

5.) Haifoss

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Haifoss is an attractive waterfall located near Hekla Volcano in the south of Iceland. Fossa River, a tributary of Piorsa, drops here from a height of 122 meters making it Iceland’s second highest waterfall. There is a parking lot above the waterfall. Hiking is one of the most popular activities on this beautiful tourist destination.

6.) Gjain Fall

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Gjain Fall is located in the Valley of Gjain in the southern part of the country. Not far from Gjain Fall is Hekla Volcano which can be viewed from the site.

7.) Dettifoss

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Dettifoss is an impressive waterfall located in Jokulsargljufur National Park in northeast Iceland. The falls are 100 m wide and have a drop of 44 m down to the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon. This spectacular waterfall is Europe’s largest and most powerful waterfall in terms of volume discharge, having an average water flow of 200m3/s.

8.) Selfoss

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Another waterfall in Iceland that offers a breathtaking view is the Selfoss. It is located in the river Jokulsa a Fjollum north of Iceland. This 44 meter high waterfall has a width of 100 meters.

9.) Glymur Waterfall

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Glymur Waterfall, with a cascade of 196 m, is the highest waterfall in Iceland. It is located at the rear end of the Hvalfjorour and is a very beautiful part of the country with volcanoes and tree plantations.

10.) Ofærufoss

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Ofærufoss is a beautiful waterfall located in the Eldgja chasm in central Iceland. The natural bridge that used to span the falls collapsed in the 1990s due to natural causes.

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