Gullfoss Waterfall

“Gullfoss” translates as the “Golden Falls” and is one of the highlights on the Golden Circle Tour.Declared as the largest waterfall complex in Europe, Gullfoss is fed my the Hvítá river which runs from the central Iceland glaciers. The water plunges down a three stage cascade until it cuts through a mighty canyon. The Hvítá river then runs to the coast near Selfoss.

Just standing close to Gullfoss, it is easy to be in awe of nature’s forces. Gallons of glacier melt water cascading into a canyon. From the corner viewpoint (shown below), it is impossible to see the bottom of the canyon due to the immense spray.

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Due to the relentless fight of one Icelandic woman, Gullfoss remains one of Iceland’s unspoilt attractions. Sigríður Tómasdóttir is rumoured to have stopped Gullfoss becoming a Hydro-electric station by threatening to throw herself into the falls. A stone stands at Gullfoss as a memorial to the woman who saved Gullfoss.

The best light in winter is around 1PM from the lower car park. In summer the best time is 6AM from the lower part of Gullfoss footpath. In good conditions double rainbow can be photographed.

It is rewarding to experiment with shutter speed here – try a range from 1/4 to 1/125. Both long and short focal lengths can achieve pleasing results.