Gullfoss Waterfall
Gullfoss, meaning Golden Falls, is one of Iceland's most powerful and visited waterfalls, dropping 32 metres in two dramatic tiers into the narrow Gullfossgjúfur canyon on the Golden Circle route. Fed by glacial meltwater from Langjökull glacier, it carries an average of 140 cubic metres of water per second in summer, producing a roar and a cloud of mist that can be heard and felt long before the falls come into view.
A Two-Tiered Glacial Waterfall That Almost Became a Power Station
Gullfoss sits on the Hvítá River in southwest Iceland, fed by meltwater from Langjökull, Iceland's second-largest glacier. The river drops first 11 metres then a further 21 metres into the Gullfossgjúfur canyon, which bends almost at a right angle as it descends, forcing the water to change direction mid-fall and creating the distinctive shape that sets Gullfoss apart from most other waterfalls. The canyon walls reach up to 70 metres high and stretch 2.5 kilometres downstream. On sunny days, rainbows arc through the mist at the canyon edge, which may be the origin of the name: golden, in Icelandic, refers to the shimmer the water takes on in bright light. A Viking legend offers an alternative explanation, claiming a wealthy farmer threw his gold into the waterfall so no one could inherit it after his death.
The waterfall nearly did not survive the 20th century. In the early 1900s, foreign investors sought to lease the land and build a hydroelectric dam that would have flooded the canyon. Sigríður Tómasdóttir, daughter of the farmer who owned the land, campaigned tirelessly against the project, reportedly threatening to throw herself into the falls if the plan went ahead. Sveinn Björnsson, who later became Iceland's first president, acted as her lawyer. The lease was eventually cancelled in 1934 and the waterfall was formally protected as a nature reserve in 1979. A memorial stone commemorating Sigríður stands on the cliff overlooking the falls, and she is widely regarded as Iceland's first environmentalist.
Gullfoss is free to visit and open year-round, with a large car park, visitor centre, café, and souvenir shop on site. Upper and lower viewpoint paths give different perspectives on the falls, though the lower path is sometimes closed in winter due to ice. Sturdy footwear is recommended year-round as paths can be slippery from spray. The waterfall is about 10 minutes east of the Geysir geothermal area along Route 35, making it a natural final stop on the Golden Circle before returning to Reykjavik, which is roughly 120 kilometres to the southwest.
