List of rivers of Iceland facts for kids
Iceland is an island country known for its amazing nature, including many rivers. Even though there are lots of rivers, they are usually quite short. This is because Iceland is not a very wide country. Also, most of these rivers start in the Highlands of Iceland, which is a wild and empty area. Because of this, people don't use these rivers for boats or shipping goods. They are mostly important for their natural beauty and sometimes for making electricity.
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Rivers of Iceland
Iceland's rivers are often named after their color, like "Hvítá" meaning "White River," or after features they pass, like "Jökulsá" meaning "Glacier River." Many of them are fed by melting glaciers, which makes their water cold and sometimes cloudy with sediment.
Rivers in the South
The southern part of Iceland has some of the country's most powerful rivers. These rivers often flow from large glaciers and cross wide plains before reaching the ocean.
- Hvítá: This river is known for its beautiful waterfalls, including the famous Gullfoss.
- Krossá: A river that flows through the Þórsmörk valley, a popular hiking area.
- Kúðafljót: One of the larger rivers in the south.
- Markarfljót: This river is known for its wide, braided channels.
- Mustafl: A smaller river in the region.
- Ölfusá: This is the river with the most water flowing through it in all of Iceland! It's very powerful.
- Rangá: A river that flows through agricultural areas.
- Skaftá: This river is known for its connection to volcanic activity and floods.
- Skeiðará: A glacier river that can cause large floods called jökulhlaups.
- Skógá: This river is famous for the stunning Skógafoss waterfall.
- Sog River|Sog: A short but powerful river that flows from Þingvallavatn lake.
- Þjórsá: This is the longest river in Iceland, stretching about 230 kilometers (143 miles)!
- Tungnaá: A large river that is used for hydroelectric power.
Rivers in the West
The western rivers of Iceland often flow through green valleys and farmlands, sometimes starting in the highlands and making their way to the coast.
- Fossa: A river that often has many small waterfalls.
- Hvítá: Another "White River," this one flows through the Borgarfjörður area.
- Kjarrá–Thervá River|Kjarrá–Thervá: A combined river system.
- Norðurá: A river known for its good salmon fishing.
Rivers in the Westfjords
The Westfjords region is rugged and mountainous, so its rivers are often shorter and steeper, sometimes forming dramatic waterfalls as they rush to the sea.
- Dynjandi: This is actually a series of beautiful waterfalls, often called the "Jewel of the Westfjords."
- Kolbeinsá: A river in the northern part of the Westfjords.
- Staðará: A river flowing through a fjord called Steingrímsfjörður.
Rivers in the North
Northern Iceland has a mix of powerful glacier rivers and clearer spring-fed rivers, flowing through wide valleys and sometimes into large bays.
- Blanda: A long river that has been dammed for power.
- Eyjafjarðará: A river flowing into Eyjafjörður, a long fjord.
- Eystri Jökulsá: An eastern glacier river.
- Fnjóská: A beautiful river known for its clear water and forests nearby.
- Glerá: This river flows through the town of Akureyri.
- Héraðsvötn: A large river system formed by two main branches.
- Hörgá: A river flowing into Eyjafjörður.
- Jökulsá á Fjöllum: This is a very powerful glacier river that flows through a canyon and creates the mighty Dettifoss waterfall, one of Europe's most powerful.
- Laxá: Meaning "Salmon River," this river is famous for its salmon fishing.
- Norðurá: Another "North River," this one is in the Skagafjörður area.
- Skjálfandafljót: A large river that creates the beautiful Goðafoss waterfall.
- Vatnsdalsá: A river flowing through the Vatnsdalur valley.
Rivers in the East
The eastern part of Iceland features rivers that often flow through narrow fjords and green valleys, with some originating from the large Vatnajökull glacier.
- Hamarsá: A river that flows into Hamarsfjörður.
- Hofsá: A river known for its good fishing.
- Jökulsá á Dal: Also known as Jökulsá á Brú, this river was once very muddy but became clearer after a dam was built.
- Jökulsá í Fljótsdal: A glacier river in the Fljótsdalur valley.
- Jökulsá í Lóni: Another glacier river in the Lón area.
- Lagarfljót: This is a long lake-like river, famous for the legend of a monster living in its waters, similar to the Loch Ness Monster!
- Selfljót: A river in the eastern fjords.
Images for kids
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The Álfar
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The mouth of the Hamarsá, Hamarsfjörður
