65°34′39″N 19°24′45″W / 65.5775°N 19.4126°W
Vestari-Jökulsá or Jökulsá vestri (English: Western Glacier River) is a glacier river in Skagafjörður, Iceland. It originates in the northwest corner of Hofsjökull and is formed from many branches that fall together and flow northward.[1] The beginning of the river runs through relatively low-pitched and level land, through a deep canyon, called Þröngagil. It then follows the length of a valley finally falling into Vesturdalur to the northeast, where Hofsá (“Temple river”) flows into it. Hofsá runs briefly along Vesturdalur, before joining the Austari-Jökulsá at Tunguháll, at which point the rivers are known as the Héraðsvötn.[2]
There have been discussions about using both rivers for power plants, with various possible locations under consideration, though most discussions have revolved around a potential power plant in Villinganes, located a little below the confluence. Others want to grant the rivers protected status.[3][4]
White-water rafting is available on both the Vestari- and Austari-Jökulsá, which are considered particularly well suited to this activity.[5]
Bibliography
edit- Hallgrímur Jónasson: Árbók Ferðafélags Íslands. Skagafjörður. Ferðafélag Íslands, 1946.
- Hjalti Pálsson (ritstj.): Byggðasaga Skagafjarðar II. bindi. Lýtingsstaðahreppur. Sögufélag Skagfirðinga, 2004. ISBN 978-9979-861-13-4
References
edit- ^ Birgir (2019-08-19). "HERADSVOTN AUSTARI og VESTARI JOKULSA". NAT. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ "Vestari Jökulsá Travel Guide". Guide to Iceland. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ "Home". SavetheAustari. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ Session, Kayak (2023-05-01). "Save the Austari-Jökulsá". Kayak Session Magazine (in French). Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ^ Iceland, North. "River rafting in North Iceland". Visit North Iceland. Retrieved 2024-08-04.