|
 In order to
get to the waterfall Urridafoss you follow the signs and
take a side road which is well marked and located a little
bit to the west of the new Thjorsa bridge on highway 1.
Urridafoss is the largest and most
spectacular of all the waterfalls of river Thjorsa. It
is also located near the coast. The water flows over
a strong rock platform, formed during glacial times (Hreppar
Formation). Urridafoss is one of the most voluminous
waterfalls in Iceland and the average water flow of Thjorsa
at Urriðafoss is 360 m³/sek. Only river Olfusa has greater
volume
(373 m³/sek).
The water at Urridafoss drops 6 meters at the highest
point.
Thjorsa is the longest river of the country, 230 km. Its
catchment area is the interior desert Sprengisandur, the northern highlands, and
it discharges the glaciers Vatnajokull, Tungnafellsjokull and
Hofsjokull.
The river
is the natural boundary of the local municipalities Arnes and Rangarvellir.
South of the river's
watershed are already a few sizable dams,
and the area constitutes the most exploited hydropower area
in Iceland.
During winter the river accumulates large floes of ice downstream
creating dams where grows considerably. It is fantastic to visit the
canyons of Thjorsa below the waterfall of Urridafoss in the
spring, when the river is breaking free from the great ice
barriers. Enormous floes of ice break into pieces and fall
spectacularly into the river.
Salmon swims upriver to the waterfall, jumps and swims
further upstream. It is said that the salmon population of
Thjorsa has an exceptionally strong and long tailfin in
order to clear the 6 m high waterfall. Trout and eel
are also
found in the river. It is teeming
with life, although it seems to be a harsh environment
for life at first sight.
Not far above the new bridge there is an older
one. If the hydropower dam of Urridafoss is to be
constructed, it will be located not far above the older
bridge and a considerable reservoir would be created behind
it. At the dam the water would be diverted to the east to
the control station located underground, but the water would
reappear in the river bed about 3 km further downstream. Iceland's most voluminous
waterfall would almost disappear.
Source:
Friends of Urridafoss |
