Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon
The River Jökulsá á Fjöllum emerges from the foot of the Vatnajökull ice cap and runs north to the sea at Öxarfjördur. At the edge of the highlands, the land drops and the river plunges over a series of powerful waterfalls into the canyon that bears its name.
Over 24 km long with a width of up to ½ km and a depth of up to 100 m, the Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon is one of the largest and most impressive of Iceland's many river canyons. It has enthralled visitors for centuries.
Spectacular features
This dramatic canyon was formed by the actions of water, fire and ice. Enormous, catastrophic glacial bursts (jökulhlaups) are believed to have carved out the deep ravines and rocky basins, the most famous of which is Ásbyrgi.
The Hljódaklettar outcrops are the cores of ancient volcanoes, revealed when the river swept away all the loose volcanic material. A little further to the north stand Raudhólar, the original scoria cones.
The waterfalls on the River Jökulsá á Fjöllum, Selfoss, Dettifoss, Hafragilsfoss and Réttarfoss are powerful and impressive.
The Hólmatungur district is an area of contrasts: crystal clear streams and bubbling brooks cross the land before emptying into the raging, chocolate-coloured torrent. A delicate balance of flora and fauna thrives under the protection of cliffs and scree slopes.
Visitor Centre
The National Park in Jökulsárgljúfur was established in 1973. At that time it covered an area of 120 km² - a 30 km long stretch along the western bank of the River Jökulsá, from Dettifoss to Ásbyrgi. The Park is now part of the Vatnajökull National Park.
A visitor centre, situated at the entrance to Ásbyrgi, provides information about the Park and its environs. Known as Gljúfrastofa, the centre houses an exhibition on the geology, history, flora and fauna of the Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon. Gljúfrastofa is open from 1 May to 30 September, when a range of organised activities are on offer. The centre will open by appointment at other times of year.
A flash map viewer has been created for the Park in Jökulsárgljúfur. The site allows access to a wide range of useful information, including descriptions of hiking trails, the main sites of natural interest and other things visitors might like to know. The flash map can be accessed here: http://flashmap.ust.is/jokulsargljufur.