List of rivers of Iceland
Encyclopedia
On an island like Iceland
, no rivers are very long. None of the rivers are important as a navigation means due to the impracticality of settlements in the Highlands of Iceland
where they originate. The most important rivers are:
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, no rivers are very long. None of the rivers are important as a navigation means due to the impracticality of settlements in the Highlands of Iceland
Highlands of Iceland
The Highlands of Iceland cover most of the interior of Iceland. They are situated above 400–500 metres and are mostly an uninhabitable volcanic desert, because the water precipitating as rain or snow infiltrates so quickly into the ground that it is unavailable for plant growth, which results...
where they originate. The most important rivers are:
South Iceland
- HvítáHvítáHvítá is a river whose source is in the glacier lake Hvítárvatn at Langjökull glacier in the highlands of Iceland at . The river flows for 40 km before dropping down into a narrow gorge at the waterfall Gullfoss....
- Krossá
- Kúðafljót
- MarkarfljótMarkarfljótMarkarfljót is a river in the south of Iceland. It is approximately 100 kilometers long.The Markarfljót rises in the Rauðafossafjöll massif, east of the volcano Hekla. The main sources for the river are the glaciers Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull...
- Múlakvísl
- ÖlfusáÖlfusáThe Ölfusá is a river in Iceland. It is formed when the rivers Hvítá and Sog combine, just north of the town of Selfoss and flows for 25 km into the Atlantic ocean. It is Iceland's largest river with an average flow of 423 m³/s. Its discharge area is 5760 km². The Ölfusá has a strong salmon...
(the greatest flow of an Icelandic river) - RangáRangaRanga may refer to:* B. S. Ranga , Indian photographer* S. V. Ranga Rao , South Indian actor, director and producer* Ranga Sohoni , Indian Test cricketer* Ranga Ediriwickrama, Australian rules footballer...
- SkeiðaráSkeiðaráThe river Skeiðará is a relatively short glacier river . It has its source on the glacier Skeiðarárjökull, one of the southern arms of the Vatnajökull in the south of Iceland....
- SogSogSog may refer to:*Sog River, river in Iceland*Sog County, county in Tibet...
- ÞjórsáÞjórsáÞjórsá is Iceland's longest river at 230 kilometers. It is in the southern region of the island.Þjórsá is a glacier river has its source on the glacier Hofsjökull. It flows out through narrow gorges in the highlands of Iceland. Further downstream, another river, the Tungnaá, flows into it , before...
(the longest river of Iceland, 230 km) - TungnaáTungnaáThe Tungnaá is a river in the southern highlands of Iceland. It flows from the western edge of Vatnajökull to the reservoir Sultartangalón, where it joins the Þjórsá. The river has been used extensively for hydroelectricity, with power stations at Vatnsfell, Sigalda, Hrauneyjafoss, and Sultartangi....
West Iceland
- Hvítá (Borgarfjörður)
- Norðurá (Borgarfjörður)Norðurá (Borgarfjörður)Norðurá is a river that runs through the Borgarfjörður region in central west Iceland....
- FossáFossa (Iceland)The Fossa Valley runs from the Corpse river lake into the southern side of Berufiord Bay, Hvalfjödur. Throughout the course of the river, there are many waterfalls, the most visited of which lies beside the Route 47. Car parking is provided next to the main road....
North Iceland
- BlandaBlandaThe Blanda is a river in Iceland which flows northwards from the northwest side of the Hofsjökull glacier into Húnaflói bay at Blönduós. The Blanda is one of the longest rivers in the country, with a length of about 125 km, and has a catchment area estimated at 2370 km². Its source is...
- Eyjafjarðará
- Eystri Jökulsá
- Fnjóská
- GleráGleráGlerá River is a river in northern Iceland. It originates from glaciers in the mountains of Tröllaskagi peninsula and also draws water from some fresh water springs on its way down Glerá Valley. It runs through the town of Akureyri before it flows into the sea in Eyjafjörður. The river formed the...
- HéraðsvötnHéraðsvötnHéraðsvötn is a river in Iceland. It is formed by the confluence of Austari-Jökulsá and Vestari-Jökulsá.- Weblinks :*...
- Hörgá
- Jökulsá á FjöllumJökulsá á FjöllumJökulsá á Fjöllum is the second longest river of Iceland . Its source is the Vatnajökull glacier. It flows into the Arctic Sea. Jökulsá á Fjöllum streams over the waterfalls Selfoss and Dettifoss, the second of which is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and through the canyon at...
- LaxáLaxåLaxå is a locality and the seat of Laxå Municipality, Örebro County, Sweden with 3,307 inhabitants in 2005.-History:The town was founded in the mid-19th century when the main line railway between Gothenburg and Stockholm was built in 1883. Laxå is situated exactly 226 km from both those...
- Norðurá (Skagafjarðarsýsla)
- SkjálfandafljótSkjálfandafljótThe River Skjálfandafljót is situated in the north of Iceland.It has its source at the northwestern border of the icecap Vatnajökull on the Highlands of Iceland...
- Vatnsdalur
East Iceland
- LagarfljótLagarfljótThe lake Lagarfljót is situated in the east of Iceland near Egilsstaðir. Its surface is measuring 53 km² and it is 25 km long, its greatest width is 2.5 km and its greatest depth 112 m...
- Jökulsá á Dal
- Jökulsá í Fljótsdal