Vestari-Jökulsá
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Vestari-Jökulsá Jökulsá vestri | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Etymology | Western Glacier River |
| Location | |
| Country | Iceland |
| County | Skagafjörður |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Hofsjökull |
| Mouth | |
• coordinates | 65°22′20″N 19°6′30″W / 65.37222°N 19.10833°W |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Austari-Jökulsá, Héraðsvötn |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Hofsá |
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]
