Selfoss (Húsavík)
Selfoss is a nice and beautiful waterfall in the North of Iceland. With a height of appr. 10 meters not the highest waterfall in the area but quit impressive to see.
Selfoss is located in Iceland’s second largest river Jökulsá 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.
Selfoss is located near the most powerful waterfall in Europa, Dettifoss. From Selfoss it a 20 minute walk (1 kilometer) to the north/downstream of the river. It is said that Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe with possible volumes up to 500 m3 per second.
Dettifoss 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 and is well marked. Do not forget to check the Hafragilsfoss, a little bit further to the north. Not as powerful, but still very beautiful.
Beside Dettifoss, Selfoss is not the only waterfall in the river Jökulsá Fjollum. Downstream from Dettifoss there is another impressive waterfall Hafragilsfoss. A little bit further downstream you will also find Réttarfoss, even so impressive as the other falls (but Dettifoss is of the outer category)