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Highlands Rivers

18 rivers in Highlands — mapped with live road conditions, drive times, and directions.

18 rivers in Highlands

Fossá river

Fossá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Glacial rivers are cold, fast, and dangerous. Never underestimate current strength.

Kreppa river

Kreppa

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Svartá river

Svartá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Svartá river

Svartá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Svartá river

Svartá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Svartá river

Svartá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Svartá river

Svartá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. River conditions change rapidly with weather and glacier melt. Check before attempting crossings.

Svíná river

Svíná

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Glacial rivers are cold, fast, and dangerous. Never underestimate current strength.

Ásgarðsá river

Ásgarðsá

Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Fishing permits are required and often expensive for prime salmon rivers.

Þjórsá river

Þjórsá

Iceland's longest river at 230km, draining the highlands south to the coast. A major feature of the southern landscape. The river carries glacial meltwater from Hofsjökull glacier through volcanic deserts and farmland. Multiple waterfalls along its course, including Háifoss. Salmon fishing is excellent but exclusive - permits are expensive and limited. The landscape along the river is worth seeing regardless. The river delta near the coast is important bird habitat. Hydroelectric dams tap its power upstream.

Hvítá river

Hvítá

The white river feeding Gullfoss waterfall - part of every Golden Circle trip. The milky glacial water comes from Langjökull glacier. Hvítá means 'white' referring to the glacial sediment that gives it that color. River rafting is popular on the upper Hvítá. Multiple operators run trips from Reykjavík. The river passes geothermal areas - hot springs mix with glacial meltwater in some sections.

Skjálfandafljót river

Skjálfandafljót

North Iceland river feeding Goðafoss - the Waterfall of the Gods. When Iceland converted to Christianity in 1000 AD, the lawspeaker threw Norse idols into this waterfall. History flows with the water here. Salmon fishing is world-class but expensive. The landscape around the river is classic North Iceland - volcanic, treeless, dramatic.

Hofsá (Vesturdalur)

Hofsá is a river that runs through Vesturdalur in Skagafjörður, Iceland and joins the Vestari-Jökulsá where it flows out of Hofsdalur valley at Bjarnastaðahlíð, a short distance from the church site Goðadalir. Icelandic river shaped by glaciers and volcanic landscape. Many rivers offer rafting opportunities - operators know the safe sections.

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