Dettifoss

The waterfall is about 44 meters high and around 100 meters wide with average flow of around 193 m3/s. The source of the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum (The glacier river in the mountain) is from underneath the north part of the Vatnajökull glacier.

Dettifoss has an amazing face of glacier color water with a lot of power and ruffled water flow. The waterfall can create a lot of water spray that makes the surrounding slippery and dangerous and in winter, very icy. The surrounding is raw with cliffs and black sand desert with small green moss in between.

The waterfall was used when filming scene for the movie Prometheus starring Charlize Theron.

Walking trails lead to the waterfall, it is important that tourists respect the nature and stay on the paths, as the nature area is very vulnerable to intrusion.
It is also possible to hike along the canyon from Dettifoss to Ásbyrgi, about 34 km.

Directions:

From Ring Road nr .1 take road nr. 864 for about 25 km (30minutes) and then turn where the sign says Dettifoss. The road is a gravel road and usually not passable during winter months.
It is also possible to access the waterfall from the East side, road nr. 862.  

On the west side of Jökulsá river: Road number 862 usually open from May/June and until the beginning of October.
On the east side of Jökulsá river: Road number 864 a gravel road, no winter service on the road.

Distances:

Ásbyrgi - Dettifoss: 28 km
Ásbyrgi - Vesturdalur (Hljóðaklettar): About 16 km
Main road - Dettifoss (road 864): About 25 km
Dettifoss - Mývatn: About 50 km
Ásbyrgi - main road (by Grímsstaði): 60 km