Would you believe this record breaking waterfall right off the Ring Road had no visitors in the middle of a beautiful September day? Urridafossi is a hidden gem of Southern Iceland and it is the most voluminous waterfall of the country.
Visiting the waterfall is very simple, there is a short gravel path leading from the parking lot no longer than a quarter of a mile showcasing different views.
Its name translates to The Waterfall of Salmon because so many of the fish were historically present in the river. They are said to have unusually long and powerful tails to make it up past the waterfall where they spawn. Seals are known to go as far as the base of the waterfall to catch a salmon dinner.
The falls are found along Iceland’s longest river, Þjórsá, its source is the Hofsjökull Glacier. The glacier melt and spring run off help create an impressive flow of 360m3 per second! While the falls aren’t that high, just shy of twenty feet tall, they are very wide and powerful.
So vigorous that the famous power company Landsvikjurn has interest in turning the natural site into a hydroelectric plant. This vision has created some controversy because it is expected to drain the waterfall!
Fun Fact: During colder winters ice can pile up on these falls 98 feet high.
Iceland has some great stories about environmentalists winning battles like this, so I am hopeful!
Hopefully the plant finds interests elsewhere! This is beautiful.