Hjálparfoss () is one of several waterfalls in the south of Iceland situated in the lava fields north of the
stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a typically conical volcano built up by many alternating layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile with ...
Hekla
Hekla (), or Hecla, is an active stratovolcano in the south of Iceland with a height of . Hekla is one of Iceland's most active volcanoes; over 20 eruptions have occurred in and around the volcano since the year 1210. During the Middle Ages, th ...
near the point where the rivers Fossá and
Þjórsá
Þjórsá () is Iceland's longest river at . It is in the south of the island.
Þjórsá is a glacier river and has its source on the glacier Hofsjökull. It flows out through narrow gorges in the highlands of Iceland. Further downstream, a ...
join. Hjálparfoss is located about east of the village
Flúðir
Flúðir (, anglicised as Fludir) is a village located in the Hrunamannahreppur municipality in the Southern Region, Iceland. It has a population of 818 (as of January 2020). It is not far from Geysir (the first recorded geyser in history) and th ...
and can be reached by a gravel road off
Route 32 that winds through the Vikrar lava fields. About south of Hjálparfoss lies
Þjófafoss; further east are
Háifoss on the Fossá and
Tangafoss on the Þjórsá.
Just downstream from Hjálparfoss is Iceland's second-largest
hydroelectric power station
Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and also mo ...
,
Búrfellsstöð.
Gallery
Hjálparfoss close Grunkhead.jpg, The waters of Fossá merging in the basin of Hjálparfoss.
Basalt near Hjálparfoss.jpg, Some of the basalt
Basalt (; ) is an aphanite, aphanitic (fine-grained) extrusive igneous rock formed from the rapid cooling of low-viscosity lava rich in magnesium and iron (mafic lava) exposed at or very near the planetary surface, surface of a terrestrial ...
columns surrounding the basin of Hjálparfoss.
See also
*
Waterfalls of Iceland
Iceland is well suited for waterfalls (Icelandic: s. ''foss,'' pl. ''fossar''). This Nordic countries, Nordic island country lies along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which separates North America and Europe near where the North Atlantic and Arctic Oce ...
*
List of waterfalls
This list of notable waterfalls of the world is sorted by continent, then country, then province, state or territory. A waterfall is included if it is at least tall and has an existing Wikipedia article, or it is considered historically sig ...
External links
Information on Búrfellsstöðfrom
Landsvirkjun
Landsvirkjun, () the National Power Company of Iceland, is Iceland's largest electricity generator. Landsvirkjun operates 21 power plants in Iceland concentrated on five main areas of operation.
History
Landsvirkjun was founded on 1 July 196 ...
(in Icelandic)
Images of Hjálparfosson
Flickr
Flickr ( ) is an image hosting service, image and Online video platform, video hosting service, as well as an online community, founded in Canada and headquartered in the United States. It was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and was previously a co ...
Waterfalls of Iceland
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