Gullfoss

GullfossGullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. Together with Þingvellir and Geysir, Gullfoss forms the Golden Circle, a popular day tour for tourists in Iceland. Gullfoss means “the golden fall”.

From Reykjavik to Gulfoss it is a 115 kilometer drive to the east over road 36>365>37>35 or you can approach Gullfoss from the south, via Selfoss (70 kilometer), following road 35.

Gullfoss can be reached by two sides of the river. The easiest and most beautiful is the east side, but the way to the fall is dusty. Near Gullfoss there is a parking lot that can be quit busy. From the parking you look down on the waterfall which gives a good impression of the power of the waterfall. From there you can descent over a wooden staircase. You will pass several point from which you can take beautiful pictures. Best place is to walk to the base of the waterfall.

I visited Gulfoss once, July 2011, early summer and Gulfoss was second waterfall I visited in Iceland. Öxarárfoss in national park Thingvellir was the first waterfall in Iceland I visited. I must say the power, the huge amount of water thundering down over 32 meter was quite impressive. The waterfall is quite photogenic but I didn’t took much time to explore the several viewpoints. Maybe the next time. Gulfoss and Iceland is still high on my wishlist to visit again. Unfortunately traveling to Iceland isn’t very cheap…

GulfossGullfoss is a wide waterfall in the river Hvítá with a total height of 32 meters. About a kilometer above the falls it turns sharply to the right and flows down into a wide curved three-step “staircase” and then abruptly plunges in two stages (11 m and 21 m) into a crevice 32 m deep. The crevice, about 20 meter wide, and 2.5 km in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river. The average amount of water running over this waterfall is 140 m³/s in the summertime and 80 m³/s in the wintertime. The highest flood measured was 2000 m³/s.

During the first half of the 20th century and some years into the late 20th century, there was much speculation about using Gullfoss to generate electricity. During this period, the waterfall was rented indirectly by its owners, Tómas Tómasson and Halldór Halldórsson, to foreign investors. However, the investors attempts were unsuccessful, partly due to lack of money. The waterfall was later sold to the state of Iceland, and now the waterfall is protected.

Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of Tómas Tómasson was determined to preserve the waterfall’s condition and even threatened to throw herself into the waterfall. Although it is widely believed, the very popular story that Sigríður did save the waterfall from use is not true. A stone memorial to Sigriður, located above the falls, depicts her profile.

Gullfoss appears on the cover of the album Porcupine by the British band Echo and the Bunnymen. Additionally, the falls are referenced in the novella, The Odd Saga of the American and a Curious Icelandic Flock during a dinner, Snorri expresses a preference for Gullfoss, while Dr. Gustafsson favors Glymur.

Gullfoss features in the music video for the single “Heaven” by the band Live. During the video a young man and a young woman separated by the Hvítá river exchange written messages carried on rocks that they throw to each other over the river and the falls. At the end of the music video the young man attempts to swim across the Hvítá river downstream from the Gullfoss. His young lady friend is so horrified by seeing him being washed down the Hvítá river that she also jumps into the river in order to help him. They then float down the river holding onto each other.
Info from wikipedia

For a list with all waterfalls in Iceland or a map with all waterfalls in Iceland, go to the main Iceland section.

One thought on “Gullfoss

  • 26 July 2017 at 15:41
    Permalink

    Thank you for the info. Thanks to it, I opened this waterfall to myself and explored the area around.
    The bottom way was closed but the view is amazing anyway.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Gullfoss

CountryIceland
RegionSuðurland
LocationSelfoss, Laugarvatn, Geysir (Árnessýsla)
RiverHvítá
Height32m
Latitude64.326322
Longitude-20.122969
Best visitSummer
Rating

Most nearby waterfalls

WaterfallDistance (linear)Rating
Natthagafoss 8 km
Budararfoss 18 km
Lambárfoss 22 km
Vatnsleysufoss 26 km
Budafoss 36 km