Gullfoss

Nature reserve·IcelandMentioned by Atlas Obscura
Gullfoss
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
“Gullfoss is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country, and is included in "Golden Circle" tours of the countryside near Reykjavík.”
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Atlas ObscuraJul 8, 2025

Glymur in Iceland

In the moss-draped depths of the Hvalfjörður fjord, just a short detour from Reykjavík, lies a secret that roars. But you won’t find Glymur waterfall from your car window — this towering cascade, once thought to be Iceland’s tallest, makes you earn the encounter. At 198 meters (650 feet), Glymur falls into a narrow canyon carved by the river through the millennia. The name “Glymur” comes from t…

10 things in this story
  • GlymurSight198-meter waterfall in a narrow canyon, once Iceland's tallest.
  • ÞvottahellirSightLava cave on the Glymur hike, also called 'the Washing Cave'.
  • HvalkletturSightPlace name meaning 'Whale-Rock' in Icelandic.
  • HvalsgilSightPlace name meaning 'Whale-Gorge' in Icelandic.
  • MorsárfossSightGlacial fall in Vatnajökull National Park, taller than Glymur.
  • SeljalandsfossSightSeljalandsfoss is located in the South Region in Iceland right by Route 1 and the road that leads to Þórsmörk Road 249.
  • HvalfjörðurSightFjord where Glymur waterfall is located, near Reykjavík.
  • GullfossNature reserveIt is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country, and is included in "Golden Circle" tours of the…
  • Vatnajökull National ParkSightNational park where Morsárfoss is located.
  • Route 47Place
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