Urridafoss

South

Urriðafoss carries more water than any other waterfall in Iceland — around 360 cubic meters per second on average — yet drops only about 6 meters, making it one of the widest and most powerful low-drop falls in the country. The Þjórsá, Iceland's longest river, feeds it year-round with glacial meltwater from Vatnajökull and other ice caps. A proposed hydroelectric plant at Urriðafoss itself could reduce the falls dramatically; local opposition has so far kept it from being built. The falls sit about 1.5 km off Route 1, signed from the road near the Þjórsá bridge — a short, easy detour. There is no fee. The wide, braided character of the falls rewards a few minutes of wandering along the bank rather than stopping at the first overlook. The name comes from the Icelandic word for trout, and Atlantic salmon still run this stretch of river in summer. Year-round accessibility and easy access make Urriðafoss a low-commitment stop on a south coast drive. The falls are most dramatic in spring when snowmelt pushes the river above its average flow.

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