Gullfoss
On Gingerguide's self-guided Reykjavík audio tour, Gullfoss is a stop worth about ~45 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type nature
- Suggested visit ~45 min
- Reykjavík Reykjavík guide
About Gullfoss
The 'Golden Falls' on the glacier-fed Hvítá river drop in two thunderous steps into a narrow canyon, long tied to a tale of resisting a hydroelectric dam that was never built.
Gullfoss, meaning 'Golden Falls', is a waterfall on the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland, about 120 kilometres east of Reykjavík and the third classic stop on the Golden Circle. The falls descend in two stages, of roughly 11 and 21 metres, a combined drop of about 32 metres, into a canyon around 20 metres wide and up to 2.5 kilometres long. The Hvítá is fed by the glacier Langjökull, whose fine silt gives the water the golden-brown tint behind the name. Average flow is about 140 cubic metres per second in summer and 80 in winter.
In the early twentieth century, the Hvítá at Gullfoss was proposed as a site for hydroelectric power, but the plant was never built. Sigríður Tómasdóttir, daughter of the landowner, is popularly credited with campaigning to protect the falls, though historians debate her exact role. A stone memorial to her stands above the falls, which were made a permanent nature reserve in 1979.
Did you know? Gullfoss means 'Golden Falls'. The Hvítá river carries fine silt from the glacier Langjökull, which tints the water a golden-brown and, in the right light, scatters rainbows across the rising spray.
How much time do you need at Gullfoss?
Around ~45 min works well for Gullfoss — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Gullfoss?
Yes — Gullfoss made the cut as one of 18 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Reykjavík. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Reykjavík
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Gullfoss and read more:
Day 2 of the Reykjavík in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Gullfoss
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