# Þjórsá

> river in Iceland

**Wikidata**: [Q207136](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207136)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Þjórsá)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/j-rs

## Summary
Þjórsá is a river located in Iceland, serving as a significant natural watercourse within the Nordic island country. It is the parent waterway for several notable waterfalls, including Þjófafoss, Urriðafoss, and Tröllkonuhlaup. The river flows through a landscape characterized by volcanic plains and glaciers, with its course defined by specific geographic coordinates in the North Atlantic region.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type**: River (natural watercourse).
- **Location**: Iceland (North Atlantic Ocean).
- **Parent Country**: Iceland (Sovereign state, Republic of Iceland).
- **Connected Waterfalls**: Þjófafoss, Urriðafoss, Tröllkonuhlaup.
- **Geographic Coordinates**: Latitude 63.783333333333, Longitude -20.8; Latitude 64.2277046979, Longitude -19.4417320387.
- **Administrative Context**: Flows through regions including the Northwestern Region and Southern Region of Iceland.
- **Image Source**: Wikimedia Commons (File: ThjorsardalurIce.JPG).
- **Image License**: Public domain.
- **Image Artist**: TommyBee.
- **Wikipedia Title**: Þjórsá.
- **Wikidata Description**: River in Iceland.
- **Sitelink Count**: 45.
- **Country Code (Alpha-2)**: IS.
- **Country Code (Alpha-3)**: ISL.
- **Country Numeric Code**: 352.
- **M49 Code**: 352.
- **Timezone**: UTC±00:00 (Atlantic/Reykjavik).
- **Emergency Number**: 112.
- **International Calling Code**: +354.
- **Internet TLD**: .is.
- **Currency**: Icelandic króna.
- **National Language**: Icelandic.

## FAQs
**What is the primary classification and location of Þjórsá?**
Þjórsá is classified as a river, which is a larger natural watercourse, situated entirely within the sovereign state of Iceland. It is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, specifically within the Nordic island country known for its volcanic landscape and geothermal activity.

**Which specific waterfalls are associated with the Þjórsá river system?**
The river serves as the parent watercourse for three distinct waterfalls: Þjófafoss, which is explicitly described as a waterfall on the river Þjórsá; Urriðafoss; and Tröllkonuhlaup. These waterfalls are all located within the country of Iceland and are recognized as separate entities in the region.

**What are the geographic coordinates and administrative regions associated with Þjórsá?**
The river is associated with two specific coordinate points: one at latitude 63.783333333333 and longitude -20.8, and another at latitude 64.2277046979 and longitude -19.4417320387. Administratively, the river's course intersects or is relevant to the Northwestern Region and the Southern Region, which are first-level administrative subdivisions of Iceland.

**How is Þjórsá represented in digital media and knowledge bases?**
The entity has a Wikipedia title of "Þjórsá" and a Wikidata description identifying it as a river in Iceland. It is represented visually by an image titled "ThjorsardalurIce.JPG," created by the artist TommyBee and licensed under the public domain on Wikimedia Commons. The entity currently holds a sitelink count of 45 across various language editions.

## Why It Matters
Þjórsá matters as a defining hydrological feature of Iceland, contributing to the country's reputation for dramatic natural landscapes and geothermal diversity. As a major river, it supports the ecosystem of the Northwestern and Southern Regions, acting as the source for significant waterfalls like Þjófafoss and Urriðafoss that are key attractions for tourism and ecological study. Its existence is integral to the geographic identity of Iceland, a nation recognized for its high human development, democratic stability, and unique "Land of Ice and Fire" environment. The river's specific coordinates and connections to administrative regions make it a critical data point for geographic information systems and environmental monitoring in the North Atlantic.

## Notable For
- **Hydrological Connectivity**: Serves as the direct parent watercourse for multiple distinct waterfalls, including Þjófafoss, Urriðafoss, and Tröllkonuhlaup.
- **Geographic Precision**: Defined by two specific coordinate sets (63.783333333333, -20.8 and 64.2277046979, -19.4417320387) within the Icelandic territory.
- **Regional Span**: Extends across or influences both the Northwestern Region and the Southern Region of Iceland.
- **Digital Presence**: Maintains a robust knowledge base presence with 45 sitelinks and a dedicated public domain image by TommyBee.
- **National Context**: Embedded within the infrastructure of Iceland, utilizing the national emergency number (112), timezone (UTC±00:00), and currency (Icelandic króna).
- **Classification**: Identified specifically as a "river" entity with a high sitelink count (275) for the broader river category, indicating its significance in the natural watercourse hierarchy.

## Body

### Geographic and Administrative Context
Þjórsá is a river located in Iceland, a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean. The country, officially the Republic of Iceland (Lýðveldið Ísland), covers an area of 103,004 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 364,260 as of 2019. The river's location is defined by specific geographic coordinates: one point at latitude 63.783333333333 and longitude -20.8, and another at latitude 64.2277046979 and longitude -19.4417320387. These coordinates place the river within the broader context of Iceland's territory, which extends from the Arctic region to the Atlantic Ocean. The river flows through or is associated with the Northwestern Region and the Southern Region, which are first-level administrative subdivisions of the country. Iceland itself is situated at latitude 65° and longitude -19°, with its highest point at Hvannadalshnúkur (2,109 metres) and its lowest point at the Atlantic Ocean (0 metres).

### Hydrological Features and Waterfalls
As a river, Þjórsá functions as a larger natural watercourse and serves as the parent entity for several significant waterfalls. The most notable of these is Þjófafoss, which is explicitly described as a waterfall located on the river Þjórsá in Iceland. Other waterfalls associated with the river system include Urriðafoss and Tröllkonuhlaup. These waterfalls are distinct entities within the country, with Urriðafoss and Tröllkonuhlaup also having their own sitelink counts (10 and 6, respectively) in knowledge databases. The presence of these waterfalls highlights the river's role in the country's dramatic topography, which is characterized by volcanic plains, geothermal activity, and glaciers. The river's flow contributes to the subarctic climate features of the region, which experiences four distinct seasons.

### National Infrastructure and Standards
The river exists within the framework of Iceland's national infrastructure and standards. Iceland uses the Icelandic króna as its currency and operates on a UTC±00:00 timezone (Atlantic/Reykjavik). The country's emergency number is 112, and the international calling code is +354. For digital identification, Iceland uses the .is top-level internet domain. The nation's technical identifiers include ISO Alpha-2 code "IS," Alpha-3 code "ISL," and numeric code 352, which also corresponds to the M49 code. The aircraft registration prefix is "TF," and the license plate code is "IS," a standard in use since 1936. Maritime identification digits for the country are 251, and the mobile country code is 274. The electrical system operates at 230 volts and 50 Hz, utilizing Europlug, Type L, and AS/NZS 3112 plug types. Traffic in Iceland follows the right-hand side, a system adopted on May 26, 1968.

### Digital Representation and Metadata
In the digital knowledge ecosystem, Þjórsá is represented with specific metadata. The entity has a Wikipedia title of "Þjórsá" and a Wikidata description stating it is a "river in Iceland." It is associated with a sitelink count of 45, indicating its presence across multiple language editions or related projects. A visual representation is available via the image "ThjorsardalurIce.JPG," which is hosted on Wikimedia Commons. This image was created by the artist TommyBee and is licensed under the public domain. The image URL is https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/ThjorsardalurIce.JPG, with a thumbnail version available at https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/ThjorsardalurIce.JPG/960px-ThjorsardalurIce.JPG. The entity is classified under the broader category of "river," which has a sitelink count of 275, reflecting the extensive documentation of watercourses globally.

### Country Context and Significance
The river is situated in Iceland, a country known for its high quality of life, strong democratic governance, and significant contributions to literature, music, and sports. Iceland is a sovereign state with a population that has grown from approximately 175,574 in 1960 to 364,260 in 2019. The capital, Reykjavík, is one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited settlements. The country's government is a presidential constitutional republic with a parliamentary system, led by a President and a Prime Minister. The legislative body is the Althing, a unicameral parliament with 63 members. Iceland is a member of major international organizations, including the United Nations (since 1946), the World Trade Organization (since 1960), the OECD, and the Council of Europe. The country's democracy index score of 9.38 (2024) places it among the top 15 most democratic nations globally. Its Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.959 (2021), classified as "Very High." The river's existence contributes to the natural beauty and environmental diversity that underpins Iceland's global reputation for stability, innovation, and natural heritage.

## References

1. [IS 50V](https://www.lmi.is/is/landupplysingar/gagnagrunnar/nidurhal)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. GeoNames
4. [Source](https://www.lmi.is/is/landupplysingar/gagnagrunnar/nidurhal)