German kayaker becomes first person to run infamous Iceland waterfall
- 6 years ago
This is the breathtaking moment a German kayaker made the first-ever descent of an infamous 70-foot waterfall in Iceland.
The stunning POV video, which was captured on September 15, shows Adrien Mattern paddling out into the river to make his approach to the Markarfljótsgljúfur falls.
After a few seconds, he reaches the lip and over he goes, capturing for a moment the dizzying view from the top and then the insane freefall to the pool at the bottom of the waterfall.
Mattern also set up a camera downstream to record the same run. This view reveals the sheer size of the falls and the enormity of his achievement.
"The falls have been scouted before by several groups of kayakers over the years but no one stepped up to the challenge," said Mattern.
"There is a super dangerous cave at the base of the falls, which you have to avoid at all costs in order to make it away from the cascade unscathed," he added.
"Once you run a rapid or waterfall and you reappear afterwards, the feeling after is so rewarding and priceless and makes all the scary times totally worth it, Mattern said.
"These are the moments when I feel fully alive and connected to the place I’m at and there is nothing on this world which can beat that feeling for me,” he said.
The stunning POV video, which was captured on September 15, shows Adrien Mattern paddling out into the river to make his approach to the Markarfljótsgljúfur falls.
After a few seconds, he reaches the lip and over he goes, capturing for a moment the dizzying view from the top and then the insane freefall to the pool at the bottom of the waterfall.
Mattern also set up a camera downstream to record the same run. This view reveals the sheer size of the falls and the enormity of his achievement.
"The falls have been scouted before by several groups of kayakers over the years but no one stepped up to the challenge," said Mattern.
"There is a super dangerous cave at the base of the falls, which you have to avoid at all costs in order to make it away from the cascade unscathed," he added.
"Once you run a rapid or waterfall and you reappear afterwards, the feeling after is so rewarding and priceless and makes all the scary times totally worth it, Mattern said.
"These are the moments when I feel fully alive and connected to the place I’m at and there is nothing on this world which can beat that feeling for me,” he said.