The highlights of this magnificent tour from Lake Mývatn are the majestic waterfall Dettifoss and the basalt rock columns at Stuðlagil canyon, both situated in glacier rivers originating on the north side of Europe’s biggest glacier, Vatnajökull.
Heading east from Lake Mývatn we arrive at the first big river, Jökulsá á Fjöllum glacier river, where a mass of water, mud, and sand rumbles into Iceland’s most impressive canyon from Vatnajökull Glacier. Dettifoss is the most powerful waterfall in Europe, 100m wide and with fall of 44m. There is a short walk from the parking lot to the best viewpoints of the waterfall, and adjacent waterfalls of Hafragilsfoss and Selfoss. If the ground is covered in snow (which it is usually in winter), we use snowshoes to make the hike easier.
Driving through the outskirts of the highland of Iceland we arrive at the charming Möðrudalur farm, the highest inhabited place in the country, at 469 m above sea level, where we soak in the beautiful view of Mt Herðubreið which is the queen of Icelandic mountains while we have the opportunity to enjoy the quaint ambiance of the local café.
After continuing through the remote and often harsh landscape we visit Stuðlagil Canyon which is a stunning place that appeared first after the water level in the big glacier river, Jökulsá á Dal, fell and revealed the largest number of basalt rock columns in Iceland. In the summertime the water in the river has a beautiful blue-green color but that changes towards the end of summer when meltwater makes the color grey.