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Nature

Dettifoss Waterfall

North Iceland · Waterfall viewpoints

Take a walk to viewpoints over the powerful waterfall in the Jökulsá á Fjöllum canyon.

  • 1 hr 15 min visit
  • 31 km from Mývatn · Reykjahlíð as the crow flies
Plan a road trip with Dettifoss WaterfallVisit information
Dettifoss Waterfall
Photo: Photo via Visit North Iceland / Icelandic Tourist Board

Did you know?

  • The glacial river Jökulsá á Fjöllum, emerging from beneath Vatnajökull, carved the 25 km long Jökulsárgljúfur canyon — over 100 m deep in places — aided by catastrophic glacial outburst floods.

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  • Dettifoss is considered the most powerful waterfall in Europe, 44–45 m high and about 100 m wide. Above it is Selfoss, 10 m high, and below it Hafragilsfoss, 27 m high.

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  • Paved Route 862 reaches Dettifoss from the west, between the Mývatn highlands and Kelduhverfi. From the east, gravel Route 864 is slow going and closes when the snow comes in autumn.

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Further reading

On these ready-made routes

2 daysThe Diamond CircleA northern loop of canyon trails, powerful waterfalls, and the Mývatn landscape.

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