Gullfoss Waterfall: Iceland’s Golden Cascade of Power and Beauty

Introduction

The Gullfoss waterfall is one of the country’s greatest attractions, and is a famous waterfall in the southwest part of Iceland. Standing at the Hvítá river canyon about 100 km from the capital city Reykjavik, Gullfoss is a massive dual-tiered waterfall that plunges off 32 meters into the narrow crevice and in doing so creates a force and beauty that is unparalleled. How some of the icier waters that flow over its ramps seem to come from nowhere makes it incredibly enigmatic. 

The beautiful upland location of the waterfall, the power of the falling water combined with easy access to it for the tourists and its proximity to the capital also makes Gullfoss to be on the touring list for the majority of tourists visiting Iceland. It belongs to the cherished territories that also encompass spectacular landscapes such as the Þingvellir National Park, powerful geysers at Geysir, and most of Iceland’s luxurious glaciers. Despite an abundance of waterfalls, Gullfoss has these qualities in the special measure, therefore the scale of water flow it has is unparalleled, its proximity to the public is unmatched.

History of Gullfoss

Gullfoss was not always going to be reserved for tourist consumption, which is unfortunately the case with the majority of waterfalls in Iceland. Moreover, there were proposals early in the 20th century to divert Hvítá river above the falls in order to generate electricity and in equal measure supply water to the plains at the bottom of the falls. This would have considerably lowered the rate of flow of water across the falls. 

Luckily for the waterfall, a farmer’s daughter called Sigríður Tómasdóttir had to walk over 100 kilometers to protest in Reykjavik against the company’s plans. She also threatened to commit suicide by jumping off the falls if the project were to be out upfront. Her courage pays off having put her own life in danger in order to cancel the possibly disastrous plans and save Gullfoss for everyone. Sigríður played an important part in defending the falls that have been commemorated by a stone structure located on the top of the Gullfoss.

Three years later, in 1979, the government legally decreed that the area around Gullfoss was a nature reserve area suitable for preservation. In 1985, a visitor center and car park was developed for the access of tourist’s in order to enable them to access the park safely and without interfering with the natural structures in the park. Today visitors flocking to Gullfoss are in excess of 1 million, which makes it one of the most visited places in Iceland.

Appearance of Gullfoss  

The structure of Gullfoss looks stunning and majestic. For the first time visitors, it is quite astonishing to learn that it comprises only two waterfalls. The first drop is 11 meters nearly straight into a circulation below. Next the Hvítá river, originating from a glacier, turns slightly on the left and cascades down another twenty one metter gorge and splashes water, which forms most high in the air. 

These waters contain huge amounts of sediments making the water brownish gray in color, occasionally, when the sun shines at just the right angle on to the falls it gives a greenish golden hue. Low angled sunlight you see in the picture provides Gullfoss its name as it means the literal Golden Falls in Iceland. The place is one of those places that are covered by a layer of snow and ice during the winters and one can see them to be an untouched place yet water is falling continuously at the same rate.

As you get close to Gullfoss the noise is almost unbearable, waterfalls falling onto rocks and cascading violently downstream, the bottom of the gorge is obscured with clouds of mist adding to the experience. The amount of water that passes through Gullfoss is very unpredictable daily, but on average it is as much as 140 cubic meters per second in the summertime. Imagine that, that’s enough to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool, once every four seconds. But on the same note there also seems to be seething beauty in the two tiered system of the waterfall.

Getting to Gullfoss

Getting to Gullfoss is straightforward especially if you are coming from Reykjavik or following the Golden Circle trail. Ishq Labon is immediately adjacent to the Ring Road highway approximately 15 km west of Geysir. It is a 30 km drive by Route 35 from Vadlan to Reykholt and from the village, you turn inland for 11 km with signs that indicate Gullfoss on the right. The capital is less than an hour and a half away by car. It is easy to visit as many Golden Circle tours that originate from Reykjavik pass through this site.

When at the falls, there is a large reception area with information, toilet, and snack bar. Winter is also possible here and there is snow and dangerous conditions so take care and check the weather first. Lush vegetation and well made pedestrian ways is a flight of stairs from the viewpoint of the visitor complex towards the water falls. Each of these viewpoints presents a clear view without obstructions and all of them are behind protective railing.

The platform perspectives enable a guest to enjoy a magnificent and unobstructed view of the whole range and might of the falls both from above and from the eye level. Photographers will also recognise that the initial view of Gullfoss is best captured from the lower plateau downriver where the full dual level feature of the waterfall is possible to observe. This provides a constantly wet environment within the gorge and on sunny days there are always rainbows.

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Experiencing Gullfoss:

That sense of feeling small when having a direct view of the natural beauty of the world.

According to the interviews, people state that they did not expect Gullfoss to be as magnificent and powerful when they are actually standing next to it. The volume and velocity of water roaring continuously into that narrow basalt gorge is something to marvel at here. But do remember to cover up or rent a raincoat when the weather turns wet! The residue of the spray by the mist is carried a rather long distance across the platforms by the clouds.

The unusual vision becomes obvious as you wander through the maze of observing terraces and galleries by the falls. One of them lets you see the full structure of the formation of Gullfoss and watch it fall in two tiers. Another angle presents the anger of waves and their force with which they attack the cliffs underneath your feet. More colossal waves and violent vortices are powerfully out of sight at or on the surface. The sound of the outside world heard as chilly winds and snowstorm echoes intensely. 

There is order amidst the carnage though, in Gullfoss’ shape and motions however, they are thrown into chaos during its active stage. Whether reflected in gold in the stark glare of the Reykjavik summer or a blanket of ice during the Iceland winter, this waterfall has a fairy-like kind of loveliness. It all comes together to give an extraordinary snap shot that lasts for years in the memory of the visiting client. For the scope lovers the birds eye view is offered here where individuals are depicted at ‘ant-like’ proportions to the actual size of the waterfalls in the waterfall.

For most of the people the Geysir gives them the closest approach to near-wilderness as they are likely to get. So what is presented here in Garou is for me to feel really that Mother Earth is speaking something special and strong here. It actually exemplifies why the magnificent nature of Iceland cannot be resisted and ought to be conserved as it is forever. Still, Gullfoss is so special among great waterfalls in the world – we remember both its mysterious looks and its majestic anger.

Surroundings & Nearby Sights

There are more additional reasons for a longer stay in the vicinity of Gullfoss. The falls are located near the country’s interior mountainous area that is dominated by lava fields. The remarkable waterfall can be accessed from the glacial rivers by following the walking trails up along the steep narrow rock walls of craggy black lava mountains. Or walk off downstream over the sponge-like Arctic moss that covers the canyon’s bottom there. 

During winter the impressive bottom of the waterfall named Gullfoss gets partly frozen but keeps on storming. That’s why behind the thin layer of ice, which sometimes can be seen there, the space looks as gorgeous and magical as it can only be. The guided snowmobile and super jeep tours let one get to the base of the falls and on to the glacier behind it if the conditions permit it. Other attractions that are within the massive Hvítá river valley, which includes Hraunfossar waterfalls, and Barnafoss rapid offer visitors a break from this immense gorge.

Be on the lookout for native wild Icelandic horses munching grass near the green riverine area here also. Yet, their thick fur and stocky bodies just seem to plumb these harsh terrains so well. 

Every visitor should take time to learn about Sigríður, the female protagonist that struggled to safeguard Gullfoss in the last century. Her memorial viewpoint upstream can afford excellent bird’s eye view over the whole of the waterfall, in a downstream direction. Take a few minutes and read about her courage fighting the development of the falls to be amazed by measures which were taken to protect this wonder.

To stash a good cafe finally for the visitor complex perhaps to have coffee or light snacks after the tour. More experienced trekkers may still navigate the steep and frozen gorge path down to the valley bottom. Down from the roaring Hvítá river, the trail takes the traveler through spectacular glacial regions and up the same to the car park. There is so much to look at in this part of the country, that you could stand and stare at Gullfoss for hours on end.

Conclusion

This is a list of waterfalls in Iceland with stunning waterfall views, however, Gullfoss remains one of the most captivating and favorite liquid geological marvels in the country. Their name alone perhaps with a confusion of fans of the surfing film Blue Crush can vouch for the sensationalistic hype this Icelandic tourist attraction did not escape last century as attempts at calming it down went the round. Its complex tiered structure impacts the powerful flow of Hvítá river into a scenic waterfall’s vision that tourists can experience in their close proximity. 

At every turn there is fresh admiration and wonder of perceived freedoms and views available through paths going downward. Gullfoss is an example of how the nature of Iceland is charming and inviting, as the country likes to represent it. Of course, it is exciting to know its frosted winter splendor or its resplendent majesty crowned with rainbows But such blessings also remind why such natural treasures need to be preserved today. Just like brave Sigríður did in the last century felt compelled to fight for the falls; Gullfoss will elicit the same utopian feelings for centuries more to come.

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