View of the whole Gullfoss taken in May.

Closeup of the lower part of the fall.

Another view.

Gullfoss is a waterfall located on the White River (Hvítá) in south central Iceland. Its name means the Golden Falls. The flow of the river from the regular rains and the glacial runoff, particularly in summer, makes Gullfoss the largest volume falls in Europe. Gullfoss waterfall on Iceland File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Gullfoss waterfall on Iceland File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (600x800, 38 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (600x800, 38 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (600x800, 41 KB)Gullfoss waterfall on Iceland File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (600x800, 41 KB)Gullfoss waterfall on Iceland File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Hopetoun Falls near Otway National Park, Victoria, Australia A waterfall is usually a geological formation resulting from water, often in the form of a stream, flowing over an erosion-resistant rock formation that forms a sudden break in elevation. ... There is more than one river called Hvítá in Iceland. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ...

The Gullfoss is one of the most spectacular sights on earth. It is one of the natural wonders of the world. The wide White River (Hvítá) rushes southward. About a kilometer above the falls it turns sharply to the left and flows down a wide curved three step "staircase" and then abruptly plunges into a crevice 35 m (105 ft) deep. The crevice, about 20 m (60 ft) wide, and 2.5 km in length, is at right angles to the flow of the river. The average of water running down this waterfall is by 100 – 180 m³/s in the summertime and 50 – 110 m³/s in the wintertime. The highest flood measured was 2000 m³/s. There is more than one river called Hvítá in Iceland. ...

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 were much speculation and attempts to utilize Gullfoss to create electricity. During this period, the waterfall was rented indirectly by it's owners, Tómas Tómasson and Halldór Halldórsson, to foreign investors which wanted to utilize the waterfall; however, the investor's attempts where unsuccessful, in at least one case due to lack of money. The waterfall was at last sold to the state of Iceland. But even after it was sold, there was speculation and plans of utilizing Hvítá, which would have changed the waterfall forever. This was not done, and later the waterfall was conserved.

Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of Tómas Tómasson was determined to save the waterfall from utilization and even threatened to throw her self into the waterfall. A very popular story is that Sigríður did save the waterfall from utiliztion, however, this is not true. Her attempts did not save the waterfall, there were other reasons for it not to be utilized.

A stone memorial to Sigriður, located above the falls, depicts her profile.

The place is together with Þingvellir and the geysirs of Haukadalur part of the most famous sights of Iceland, the Golden Circle. Þingvellir in autumn Þingvellir (Icelandic Þing: parliament, vellir: plains) is a place in the southwest of Iceland near the peninsula of Reykjanes and the Hengill volcanic area. ... Geysir (full name The Great Geysir), in the Haukadalur valley, Iceland, is the oldest geyser in recorded history and one of the worlds most impressive examples of the phenomenon. ... Haukadalur is a name shared by three valleys in Iceland. ...

See also: Waterfalls of Iceland, List of waterfalls Gullfoss, in southern Iceland The numerous waterfalls of Iceland are part of the wonders of nature in this region. ... This is a list of worldwide waterfalls. ...

External links

• Gullfoss gallery from islandsmyndir.is

• Gullfoss Gallery