Urriðafoss (, "sea trout waterfall") is a
waterfall
A waterfall is any point in a river or stream where water flows over a vertical drop or a series of steep drops. Waterfalls also occur where meltwater drops over the edge
of a tabular iceberg or ice shelf.
Waterfalls can be formed in seve ...
located in the river
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 ...
in southwest
Iceland
Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...
. With a flow rate of 360 m³/s, it has the highest average water flow of any waterfall in Iceland, and the second highest in
Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
behind the
Rheinfall.
The
Fossafélagið TÃtan
Fossafélagið TÃtan (Titan Waterfall Company) was an Icelandic company founded in 1914 to develop hydroelectric power plants.
From 1914 to 1919 the company acquired shares of water rights and contracts with mine owners in Iceland.
In 1927 the ...
company was given permission in 1927 to build a power plant in Urriðafoss in connection with a railway to ReykjavÃk from the waterfall.
It did not happen but now
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 ...
is planning to build
hydropower station
Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is Electricity generation, 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 energ ...
s on the lower part of Þjórsár river, at Urriðafoss and Núpur.
The proposed Urriðafoss Power Plant is expected to have a capacity of approximately 125 MW and a power-generating capacity of 930 GWh per year. The powerhouse will be underground and a tunnel leading from the powerhouse will open out into Þjórsá river below Urriðafoss waterfall. The waterfall is expected to disappear if the powerhouse is built. Local residents in the area are protesting against the construction in an effort to save Urriðafoss.
See also
*
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 ...
*
List of waterfalls in Iceland
Iceland is well suited for waterfalls (Icelandic: s. ''foss,'' pl. ''fossar''). This Nordic island country lies along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which separates North America and Europe near where the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans meet. Frequen ...
*
List of waterfalls by flow rate
This list of waterfalls by flow rate includes all waterfalls which are known to have an average flow rate or discharge of at least . The waterfalls in this list are those for which there is verifiable information, and the list should not be assu ...
References
External links
Nýjar virkjanir à Þjórsá - English summaryMap of proposed power plant in UrriðafossFaults and fractures of the South Iceland Seismic Zone near Þjórsá
Waterfalls of Iceland
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