Gullfoss
The Golden Waterfall Gullfoss
Golden Circle
In the interior of southwest Iceland lies the massive step-tiered waterfall named Gullfoss (The Golden Waterfall). The popular bus excursion tour of the Golden Circle starts from Reykjavík and stops at many natural wonders in the southwestern region of Iceland. The stops include the Geysir hot springs, with its many geysers, Þingvellir National Park with its own host of sights, and the gigantic volcanic crater Kerið. The tour culminates in the powerful and spectacular Gullfoss waterfall, which gives the tour its very name.
Hvítá
The waterfall flows down from the river Hvítá (White River), which as with so many rivers in Iceland, originates in a glacier lake. The glacier lake from which Hvítá flows is called Hvítárvatn (White River Lake), located just south of Iceland’s second-largest glacier, Langjökull (Long Glacier). From the glacier lake, Hvítá flows for 40 km until it drops down into the stepped rock staircase and wide canyon that forms the magical Gullfoss.
Breathtaking sight
The waterfall is a breathtaking sight and understandably remains one of Iceland’s top tourist attractions. The wide river flows forcefully down the stepped tiers of the waterfall, first dropping down 11 meters. The second plunge of 21 meters comes shortly after, and finally, the body of water drops down another 32 meters into the massive canyon below.
Constant mist
The water flows at between 80 – 141 cubic meters per second, depending on the time of year. Due to its speed, which is accelerated even further by the tiered steps, the waterfall has incredible force and power. That makes it an impressive and beautiful sight, as well as drenching onlookers with water by way of the constant mist spraying into the air, even though the platform overlooking the waterfall from across the canyon stands at a good distance away. It also means care must be taken when going in for an epic photo opportunity, staying within the security barriers, and watching one’s step since slippery surfaces abound.
Natural wonder
Each waterfall has its unique beauty, and Iceland has its fair share of them. Gullfoss, however, holds a special place among them all for its awesome scale and unique structure. In addition to its status as a natural wonder, it is also a symbol for Icelanders of environmental preservation. In the early 20th century, there were plans made to use the power and ferocity of Gullfoss as the source of energy for a hydroelectric dam. The landowner had agreed to rent the land to a group of investors planning to build the said dam.
Sigríður Tómasdóttir
Thankfully, the landowner’s daughter, a woman named Sigríður Tómasdóttir, staged a protest, blocking construction and raising national awareness about the plans. After the investors’ plans fell through, any further ideas of altering the waterfall lost momentum in the light of popular support for protecting the area from construction.
In 1979 Gullfoss was declared a protected area and a monument of Sigríður and a plaque explaining her story now stands at Gullfoss.
The natural wonder of Gullfoss is a worthwhile destination in its own right, yet it also stands as a symbol of conservation. It will therefore continue to amaze visitors for generations to come.
Guide to photographing Gullfoss
If you are looking for the perfect guide to photograph this beautifull waterfall on your trip to Iceland be sure to watch this video bij Mads Peter Iversen. Mads is one of the most populair photographers on YouTube and has a range of videos about photographing in Iceland (and other top places). He explaines how to get to this top location, gives you tips to get the best out of your visit and what gear you should bring on your trip. Enjoy the video from Mads!
If you like the video about photographing Gullfoss by Mads Peter Iversen be sure to follow him on YouTube and like his updates 😉
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