Iceland’s mightiest waterfalls showcase both geological drama and cultural significance. This journey explores five cascades in the north and east: Háifoss and Granni, Dettifoss, Selfoss, and Goðafoss.

Háifoss & Granni – The Canyon Giants

Háifoss plunges 122 meters into a narrow canyon, making it Iceland’s second-highest waterfall. Its twin, Granni, drops at equal height but with less prominence. Local legend describes the canyon as a place where the boundary between the mortal and hidden folk worlds grows thin, though the actual danger comes from steep walls and treacherous footing.

The twin falls create a distinctive compositional challenge. The scale is immense, with spray rising hundreds of meters and obscuring the canyon walls in perpetual mist. Long exposures soften the water into abstract forms while the dark basalt canyon provides strong contrast with white cascades. The perspective shifts dramatically depending on your position along the rim, and the isolation of the site allows for patient, deliberate black and white work.

Dettifoss – Europe’s Most Powerful Waterfall

Dettifoss is Europe’s most powerful waterfall by water volume, dropping 44 meters as the Skjálfandafljót river descends with overwhelming force. The landscape surrounding it is austere — black sand and sparse vegetation accentuate the raw power of the cascade.

The sheer volume of spray creates practical challenges for photography, requiring constant lens maintenance. The waterfall’s width and force demand careful compositional consideration. Long exposures blur the water into abstract masses, revealing tonal gradations within spray and foam. The black sand and rock provide dramatic contrast for black and white work. The sound and intensity of the falls create an experience that extends beyond the technical aspects of photography.

Selfoss – The Roiling Cauldron

Immediately below Dettifoss, Selfoss presents a different expression of power. Rather than a single drop, the river crashes over rough formations in a churning, roiling pattern that creates endless variations in water movement. The name means “self waterfall,” referring to the water’s autonomous, turbulent nature.

Selfoss offers compositional opportunities distinct from its neighbor. The lack of a clear geometric form requires capturing the essence of turbulence and motion rather than framing a recognizable shape. Long exposures transform the roiling water into sculptural forms. Shooting both Dettifoss and Selfoss in sequence reveals the contrast between vertical power and horizontal chaos.

Goðafoss – The Waterfall of the Gods

Goðafoss derives its name from a historical event: in the year 1000, when Iceland converted to Christianity, a local chieftain threw his pagan idols into the falls as a symbolic gesture. The waterfall’s distinctive horseshoe shape creates a wide arc as the water drops approximately 12 meters into a broad basin.

The falls reward multiple compositional approaches. The classic view captures the full arc, with long exposures emphasizing the graceful form. The wide basin in front provides foreground options, and shifting angles reveal different textures and relationships between water and stone. The site merges landscape and history, making it a place where Iceland’s geography and cultural narrative intersect.

Photographic Considerations

Each waterfall requires different technical approaches. Háifoss and Granni invite careful observation of interplay between the two falls. Dettifoss emphasizes raw power through composition emphasizing the cascade’s overwhelming force. Selfoss demands engagement with chaos and motion. Goðafoss bridges grand landscape views with intimate detail work.

Black and white photography heightens the importance of texture, tonality, and light-shadow relationships. Exposure decisions for mist and spray become critical, as does careful management of contrast between water and surrounding stone.

Check out these posts and galleries if you would like to see more photographs from magnificent Iceland.