Studlagil basalt column canyon, East Iceland

Studlagil Canyon is an impressive river canyon with basalt columns. It is located in East Iceland. 

The Jokulsa a Dal (Jokla) river in East Iceland runs through the valley of Jokuldalur. It used to be Iceland’s longest glacial river and one of the most sediment heavy. Water comes from the largest glacier in Iceland. Then the Halslon Reservoir was constructed. It was formed by 3 different concrete faced, rock filled embankment dams and is the largest of its type in Europe. The reservoir began to fill in 2006. Water from the river was diverted to Flotsdalur station the power the Karahnjukar hydropower plant and an aluminium smelter. Aluminium is imported to Iceland for smelting as power is so cheap. A lot of data centres have also started in Iceland.

It was only after 2006 - 2009 that the water level dropped signficantly enough to reveal basalt columns and cliffs. But it didn't become known until 2016 when an Icelandic photographer and travel writer published material about the canyon. It then began to get popular and become a tourist attraction.

The easiest access is from the west or left bank. There is no charge to go in, but there is a charge for vehicles entering the car park. The is access from the east bank, but this entails a 5 km walk from the car park. First view from the observation platform at the car park -

The east bank path -

It is a basalt column canyon. The hexagonal basalt columns were formed by the slow cooling and contraction of thick lava flows from volcanic activity. The Studlagil columns are some of the largest and best in Iceland. They rise several metres from the river bed.

The milky turquoise blue river flows through the valley. The colour is from the glacial silt suspended in the water. Before the river was dammed, it was sediment heavy and muddy brown. 

From the car park several long flights of metal steps lead down to a viewpoint over the canyon. There are trails further down with viewing platforms down and eventually you get to the last viewing platform before steps down to the river bank. It was so impressive.  

View from river level -

Looking back at the bottom staircase with a viewing platform on the rocky pillar -

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See my blog of the basalt columns on the south coast of Iceland.

My blog of the Giants Causeway basalt columns in Northern Ireland.

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