Vestari-Jökulsá

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Vestari-Jökulsá
Jökulsá Vestri
Data
location Iceland
River system Héraðsvötn
Drain over Héraðsvötn  → Atlantic Ocean
origin two streams on the north side of the Hofsjökull glacier shield
Association with Austari-Jökulsá to Héraðsvötn Coordinates: 65 ° 22 ′ 20 ″  N , 19 ° 6 ′ 30 ″  W 65 ° 22 ′ 20 ″  N , 19 ° 6 ′ 30 ″  W

Drain MNQ
MQ
MHQ
HHQ
10–15 m³ s (winter) 40–60 m³ s (summer)dep1
dep1
dep1
dep1

The Vestari-Jökulsá River is a glacial river in Iceland .

course

The Vestari-Jökulsá is located in the north of Iceland. There it rises in the form of two source streams on the Hofsjökull glacier and flows from there towards Skagafjörður . As the name suggests, it is the western of the two glacial rivers which, after their union, form the wide Héraðsvötn river , which flows into the sea, i.e. into the Skagafjörður, after about 45 km.

Most important dates

The river usually carries a lot of water and, like many glacier rivers, has a rapid current. Its average amount of water is 40–60 m³ / s in summer and 10–15 m³ / s in winter. The largest amount of water ever measured was 550 m³ / s.

traffic

The Vestari-Jökulsá has always been considered difficult to cross. That seemed easiest to do near the source. There has been a bridge at the Góðdalir since 1896, a newer one has existed here since 1982. Before the end of the 19th century there were cable ferries on the river. Using the fords is still not without risk.

Tourism and the environment

In the meantime, rafting trips for tourists are organized on this river and the Austari-Jökulsá .

For this reason, and for reasons of environmental protection, there are heated discussions about whether an aluminum plant should be built in the area and the enormous hydropower of the two rivers should be used to generate electricity.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. a b c Íslandshandbókin. Náttúra, saga og sérkenni. 1. bindi. Edited by T. Einarsson, H. Magnússon. Örn og Örlygur, Reykjavík 1989, p. 410
  2. cf. http://www.mbl.is/frettir/innlent/2012/08/14/bjorgudu_jeppa_upp_ur_vestari_jokulsa/ Morgunblaðið: Björguðu jeppa upp úr Vestari-Jökulsá , from August 28, 2012; Retrieved September 9, 2012
  3. Arctic Adventures: Wonderful West ; Retrieved September 9, 2012
  4. cf. Commentary in Morgunblaðið : Verndum Jökulsárnar í Skagafirði , November 22, 2006; Retrieved September 9, 2012