Hvítá facts for kids
The Hvítá (say "KVEET-ow") is a famous river in Iceland. Its name means 'white river' because of the light color of its water. This color comes from the glacier ice that melts into it. The Hvítá starts at the Hvítárvatn glacier lake. This lake is found on the Langjökull glacier in the highlands of Iceland at 64°37′N 19°50′W / 64.617°N 19.833°W.
Journey of the Hvítá River
The Hvítá river flows for about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from its source. It then drops into a narrow canyon, creating the amazing Gullfoss waterfall. This waterfall is one of Iceland's most popular natural attractions.
Flowing Through Districts
After the Gullfoss waterfall, the river continues its journey. It flows between two areas called Biskupstungur and Hrunamannahreppur. Here, the Hvítá gets much bigger. It joins with three other rivers: the Tungufljót, the Brúará, and the Stóra-Laxá. When these rivers combine, the Hvítá's water volume doubles!
Reaching the Ocean
The now much larger river flows through the flat lands near Grímsness. It also passes behind the Ingólfsfjall mountain. Just north of the town of Selfoss, the Hvítá meets another river called the Sog River. At this point, the river changes its name and becomes the Ölfusá. The Ölfusá then continues its path until it finally flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
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