Name of Waterfall

Gufufoss

GPS Coordinates (Approximate)

Gufufoss, Iceland

Location

Gufufoss, Iceland

Description

In the city of Egilsstaðir, turn off Highway 1 on to Route 92 where signs point to Seyðisfjörður and Reyðarfjörður. Just under one kilometer later, turn left onto Route 94, then in another 1.7km right onto Route 93, all the while following signs to Seyðisfjörður. Once on Route 93, continue up and over the height of land and down toward Seyðisfjörður for another 21.7km to a pullout on the right side of the road where a sign points out the obvious falls (there are several other waterfalls visible along the way, Gufufoss is the only one marked by a sign).Gufufoss is one of literally dozens of waterfalls found along the Fjarðará as it cascades down to join the ocean at the head of Seyðisfjörður. During the spring melt season the stream spreads across a uniform basalt ledge and plunges 88-feet in a broad curtain of water, sending a large volume of spray into the air. Later in the season the falls narrow by perhaps two-thirds and become a more characteristic plunge type waterfall.
Though not terribly obvious at cursory glance, a trail runs along the length of the Fjarðará as it cascades down the head of the valley and passes literally dozens of waterfalls along the way - a trail sign we encountered suggested there were 26 distinct waterfalls along the trail. The majority of these waterfalls are not officially named, and cannot be easily accessed from the road on the opposite side of the creek (despite being visible from it) due to the lack of room to pull off - Gufufoss being one of the exceptions. While it involves more effort than the roadside view, the trail offers a different perspective on the falls as it passes near its brink on the south side of the stream.

Other Names

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Magnitude

50.32

IWC Rating (International Waterfall Classification)

1.92

Total Height (ft)

88

Tallest Drop

88

Number of Drops

1

Average Width

30

Average High Volume (Cubic ft per second)

100 cfs (7 months)

Average Low Volume (Cubic ft per second)

50 cfs (5 months)

Pitch

90 degrees

Run (ft)

20

Watershed or Feeder Stream

Fjarðará