Norðurá in Borgarfjörður is considered by many anglers to be the best salmon river in Iceland, with an average catch of about 2000 salmon for the last 10 years. The river runs from Holtavörðuvatni, about 62 km from the sea and its catchment area is about 518 km². Norðurá has about 170 named fishing pools and their diversity is great; from medium size pools/runs to big flats. The fishing area offers everything one can imagine in a salmon river. In Norðurá there are three beautiful waterfalls, Laxfoss, Glanni and Króksfoss.
For a long period of time the waterfalls were great barriers for the salmon, especially Laxfoss. But after salmon ladders were installed in Laxfoss and Glanna and a minor construction made by Króksfoss, the salmon can migrate easily up the river to the moorland.