Whales of Iceland
Nature, Exhibitions, Museums
Fiskislóð 23–25, Reykjavík
Glanni is a celebrated stretch of the Norðurá river in Borgarfjörður, West Iceland, where a series of shallow but powerful waterfalls and rapids tumble across a broad lava shelf. The water is remarkably clear, and the layered basalt over which it flows gives the cataracts an almost architectural quality.
The Norðurá is one of Iceland’s premier salmon rivers, and in summer you can sometimes see large fish holding in the pools below the falls. The surrounding birch woodland and gentle farming landscape of Borgarfjörður add to the pastoral charm — this is a more relaxed, romantic kind of natural beauty than the drama of the great South Coast falls.
Glanni is located off Route 50 in Norðurárdalur, about 90 km north of Reykjavík. A short, easy path leads from the roadside parking to the best viewpoints along the river. No entry fee; open all year.
