Gullfoss

For the ship, see MV Gullfoss.

Gullfoss
File:Gullfoss, Suðurland, Islandia, 2014-08-16, DD 123.JPG Gullfoss in the sun in May 2006
Location	Southwest Iceland
Coordinates
Type	Tiered, Cataract
Total height	32 m
Number of drops	2
Longest drop	21 m
Watercourse	Hvítá
Average flow rate	140 m3/s

Gullfoss ("Golden Falls"; ) is a waterfall located in the canyon of Hvítá river in southwest Iceland.

Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. The wide Hvítá rushes southward. About a kilometre 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 (105 ft) deep. The crevice, about 20 m (66 ft) 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.

As one first approaches the falls, the crevice is obscured from view, so that it appears that a mighty river simply vanishes into the earth.

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.

Together with Þingvellir and the geysers of Haukadalur, Gullfoss forms the Golden Circle, a popular day tour for tourists in Iceland.

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 Gulfoss. 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.

File:Gullfoss Iceland.ogv

Gullfoss in August 2013

• Gullfoss2.jpg

  Another view.

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  Gullfoss in the fog on June 30, 2005.

• Gullfoss March07-1.JPG

  Gullfoss in late March, 2007.

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  Gullfoss in early April, 2008.

• Gullfoss, Suðurland, Islandia, 2014-08-16, DD 128.JPG

  View of the crevice summer 2014

• Gullfoss, Suðurland, Islandia, 2014-08-16, DD 119.JPG

  Another view in summer 2014

• Gullfoss, Suðurland, Islandia, 2014-08-16, DD 125.JPG

  View from the border

See also

• Geography of Iceland
• Iceland plume
• List of lakes of Iceland
• List of islands off Iceland
• List of volcanoes in Iceland
• List of waterfalls
• List of rivers of Iceland
• Volcanism in Iceland
• Waterfalls of Iceland

References

• Gullfoss

External links

• The Official Gullfoss website
• Live webcam located at Gullfoss
• Gullfoss gallery from islandsmyndir.is
• Gullfoss Gallery
• Gullfoss.org Information and photos of Gullfoss
• Gullfoss virtual tour