Rettarfoss
(Réttarfoss)
Réttarfoss is a waterfall located in the Northeast of Iceland. Réttarfoss is appr. 12 meters high and 75 meters wide. Upstream the river Jökulsá á Fjollum you will find the Hafragilsfoss and the famous Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
Réttarfoss is located in Iceland’s second largest river Jökulsá á Fjollum (206 kilometers) fed by the glacier Vatnajökull. The muddy water squeezes itself through a narrow canyon with an average volume of 193 m3 per second and ends in the Arctic Ocean. The area is part of the Jökulsárgljúfur (glacier river gorge), since 1945 and one of the four National Parks of Iceland.
It is well worth to take a short detour across an interesting crater in the landscape. This crater is one of hundreds on the country’s longest eruptive fissur (80 km). On the western brink of the canyon, river Jokulsa eroded another crater, showing its guts.
Réttarfoss is located on the Diamond Circle, a popular tourist route around Húsavík and Lake Mývatn in North Iceland. From the ring road, take the 864, a dirt road, for 27 kilometers. Very dusty, but really cool to drive. You can’t miss the exit for Dettifoss, but for he exit to Hafragilsfoss you have to look carefully. I am not sure if the exit was marked. Further on you will find Réttarfoss and Vigabjargsfoss.
Also Selfoss can be found in the river Jökulsá á Fjollum, about 1 kilometer upstream from Dettifoss.