Laxá í Kjós

Laxá í Kjós (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈlaksˌauː iː ˈcʰouːs]; Laxá in Kjós) is a river in the Kjósarhreppur municipality of southwestern Iceland. It flows about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the Stíflisdalsvatn [ˈstiplɪsˌtalsˌvahtn̥], a small lake northwest of the Þingvallavatn, into the Laxárvogur [ˈlaksˌaurˌvɔːɣʏr̥], a cove on the Hvalfjörður fjord.[1]

Laxá í Kjós
Laxá í Kjós near its mouth at the Laxárvogur.
Laxá í Kjós is located in Iceland
Laxá í Kjós
Location of the mouth of Laxá í Kjós
EtymologyIcelandic: lax, lit. 'salmon'
Location
CountryIceland
RegionCapital Region (Greater Reykjavík)
ConstituencySouthwest
MunicipalityKjósarhreppur (Kjós)
Physical characteristics
SourceStíflisdalsvatn lake
 • coordinates64°15′04″N 21°20′42″W
 • elevation178 m (584 ft)[1]
Mouth Laxárvogur, Hvalfjörður
 • coordinates
64°20′32″N 21°36′58″W
 • elevation
1 metre (3 ft 3 in)
Length20 km (12 mi)
Basin size211 km2 (81 sq mi)[1]
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftSvínadalsá, Bugða

It is known for its salmon fishing, particularly where the salmon must traverse up several waterfalls. Brown trout and sea trout are also caught in the river.[2]

The first salmon hatchery in Iceland, established in 1884 by Danish scientist Arthur Feddersen in the village of Reynivellir, was stocked with 31 spawning salmon captured in the Laxá í Kjós and its main tributary, the Bugða [ˈpʏɣða].[3] Other tributaries include the smaller Svínadalsá [ˈsviːnaˌtalsˌauː], Hálsá [ˈhaulsˌauː], and Þverá [ˈθvɛːrˌauː], all of which flow into the upper section of the river below the Þórufoss.[1]

Waterfalls

The Þórufoss [ˈθouːrʏˌfɔsː] is an 18 metres (59 ft) high waterfall, located about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) downstream from where Laxá í Kjós flows out of the Stíflisdalsvatn. A further 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) downstream from the Þórufoss is the Pokafoss [ˈpʰɔːkaˌfɔsː] a rapids-like small waterfall with a 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) cascade. Both falls are accessible from the Kjósarskarðsvegur (Highway 48). Near where the river enters the Laxárvogur is another small waterfall, the Kvíslafoss [ˈkʰvistlaˌfɔsː].

The Þórufoss was the filming location for a scene in Game of Thrones ("The Laws of Gods and Men:" Season 4, Episode 6) where a dragon attacks a herd of Meereen goats.[4]

Waterfalls (foss) of Laxá í Kjós
  • The Þórufoss in Summer
    The Þórufoss in Summer
  • The Þórufoss in Winter
    The Þórufoss in Winter
  • The Pokafoss in June
    The Pokafoss in June

References
  1. Eydís Salome Eiríksdóttir; Jón S. Ólafsson; Magnús Jóhannsson (April 2016). Áhrif affalsvatns frá fyrirhugaðri hitaveitu, Kjósaveitu, á vatnalíf á vatnasviði Laxár í Kjós [Impact of wastewater from the proposed Kjósaveita district heating system on aquatic life in the Laxá í Kjós catchment area] (PDF) (Report) (in Icelandic). Veiðimálastofnun. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  2. "Laxa in Kjos, Iceland". Where Wise Men Fish. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  3. Bened. S. Thorarinsson (1889). "Notes on the Hatcheries and Fresh Water Fisheries of Iceland". Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 120–123. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  4. Björk, Katrín. "The Ultimate Guide to Game of Thrones in Iceland in the Time of COVID-19". Guide to Iceland. Retrieved February 22, 2021.


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