Laxá í Kjós (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈlaksˌauː ˈcʰouːs]; Laxá in Kjós) is a river in the Kjósarhreppur municipality of southwestern Iceland. It flows about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the Stíflisdalsvatn [is] [ˈstiplɪsˌtalsˌvahtn̥], a small lake northwest of the Þingvallavatn, into the Laxárvogur [is] [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 [is] lake
 • coordinates64°15′04″N 21°20′42″W / 64.2510°N 21.3449°W / 64.2510; -21.3449
 • elevation178 m (584 ft)[1]
MouthLaxárvogur [is], Hvalfjörður
 • coordinates
64°20′32″N 21°36′58″W / 64.3423°N 21.6162°W / 64.3423; -21.6162
 • 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 [da] 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

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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 [is] (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]

Gallery: Waterfalls (foss) of Laxá í Kjós

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d 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.