Gullfoss, south Iceland
Gullfoss (Icelandic: "Golden Falls") is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in south west Iceland.
The wide Hvítá river rushes southward from the Hvítávatn glacier lake at the Lángjökull glacier about 25 miles north of Gullfoss. Less than a mile above Gullfoss the river turns sharply to the right and flows down into a wide curved three-step "staircase" and then abruptly plunges in 2 stages (36 feet and 69 feet) into a crevice 105 feet deep. The crevice, about 66 feet wide and 1.5 miles in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river. The average amount of water running over Gullfoss is 260 to 460 cubic feet per second but the highest flood measured was 6500 cubic feet per second.
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, Gullfoss was rented indirectly by its owners to foreign investors. However, the investors' attempts were unsuccessful and Gullfoss was later sold to the state of Iceland and is now protected.
Gullfoss is popular with tourists and, together with the Haukadalur geothermal area, usually referred to as Geysir, and Þingvellir, it is part of a group of the most famous sights of Iceland known as the "Golden Circle".
Date: 7th June 2015
Location: photo of Gullfoss on one of the visitor noticeboards (it was grey, cold, wet and windy when I was there!)
The wide Hvítá river rushes southward from the Hvítávatn glacier lake at the Lángjökull glacier about 25 miles north of Gullfoss. Less than a mile above Gullfoss the river turns sharply to the right and flows down into a wide curved three-step "staircase" and then abruptly plunges in 2 stages (36 feet and 69 feet) into a crevice 105 feet deep. The crevice, about 66 feet wide and 1.5 miles in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river. The average amount of water running over Gullfoss is 260 to 460 cubic feet per second but the highest flood measured was 6500 cubic feet per second.
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, Gullfoss was rented indirectly by its owners to foreign investors. However, the investors' attempts were unsuccessful and Gullfoss was later sold to the state of Iceland and is now protected.
Gullfoss is popular with tourists and, together with the Haukadalur geothermal area, usually referred to as Geysir, and Þingvellir, it is part of a group of the most famous sights of Iceland known as the "Golden Circle".
Date: 7th June 2015
Location: photo of Gullfoss on one of the visitor noticeboards (it was grey, cold, wet and windy when I was there!)
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Also in: South Iceland
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