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In July 2016, I had the immense fortune to take a unique family trip to Iceland together with my parents, my brother and his girlfriend. From cheese tastings in Reykjavik, to mounting soaring glaciers, passing gushing waterfalls, walking along endless stretches of coastline, gazing away at gaping fjords, bypassing lagoons, geysers & volcanoes, to meeting the beautiful, warm-hearted people of Iceland, has been one of the most memorable journeys I have ever taken.
Learn more at www.creativelena.com/en/travel-blog/europe/iceland <3
Iceland Holiday Day Eight (Gullfoss, South East Iceland)
The great thing about Gullfoss is that there's lots of footpaths meaning you can get a good distance photograph. Or you can get really close. Or inbetween. You can even have some strange bloke in there as well. It's up to you.
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The Gullfoss Falls are located roughly 70 miles (110 km) east of Reykjavik (pronounced Ray-ka-vik) and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. There are several 'stair-steps' before the main drop which is 105 feet (32 meters) into a crevice, making the waterfall (from this side) appear to vanish into the Earth. During the first half of the 20th century and a little beyond the falls were almost used for hydroelectric power which would have permanently changed them. Fortunately it didn't happen and they're now protected.
Gullfoss ("Golden Falls") is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland.
Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. The wide Hvítá rushes southward, and 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 metres and 21 metres) into a crevice 32 metres deep. The crevice, about 20 metres wide and 2.5 kilometres in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river. The average amount of water running down the waterfall is 140 cubic metres per second in the summer and 80 cubic metres per second in the winter. The highest flood measured was 2,000 cubic metres per second.
Upon arrival in Iceland we were met by news that the winter's first storm was scheduled to sweep across Iceland over the following week. With it, came 14m/s+ winds, dust storms, and harsh conditions. But, it also made for beautiful photography, fresh dustings of snow, and a proper taste of Iceland's harsh but magnificent weather.
These photos were taken over a 7 day, 2,000km road trip along the South East and Eastern Fjords.
For licensing or usage requests, please reach out directly.
Gullfoss (la « chute d'or ») est une succession de deux chutes d’eau d’Islande situées sur la rivière Hvítá. Son nom provient de l'arc-en-ciel que l'on peut souvent voir au-dessus. D’une hauteur de 32 mètres et d'une largeur de 70 mètres.
Iceland is one of those places that has a story attached to everything and Gullfoss is no excepeption.
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.
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. Even after it was sold, there were plans to utilize Hvítá, which would have changed the waterfall forever. This was not done, and now the waterfall is protected.
Waterfall
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 is now protected.
Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of Tómas Tómasson, was determined to preserve the waterfall's condition and even threatened to throw herself down. Although it is widely believed, the very popular story that Sigríður saved the waterfall from exploitation is untrue. A stone memorial to Sigriður, located above the falls, depicts her profile
July 3, 2018 - "Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall) is an iconic waterfall of Iceland offering a spectacular view of the forces and beauty of untouched nature. Gullfoss is part of the Golden Circle tour, located in South Iceland on the Hvítá (White) river which is fed by Iceland´s second biggest glacier, the Langjökull. The water plummets down 32 meters in two stages into a rugged canyon which walls reach up to 70 meters in height. On a sunny day shimmering rainbow can be seen over the falls.
Gullfoss is more than just a pretty waterfall, it has a story to tell. In the early 20th century foreign investors wanted to harness the power of Gullfoss to produce electricity. In 1907 Howells, an Englishman wanted to buy Gullfoss from Tómas Tómasson, a farmer who owned Gullfoss at this time. Tómas declined Howells´ offer to buy the waterfall but later he leased it to him. The farmer´s daughter, Sigriður Tómasdóttir who grew up on his father´s sheep farm sought to have the rental contract voided. Sigriður using her own saving hired a lawyer in Reykjavik to defend her case. The trial lasted years and Sigriður went several times barefoot on traitorous terrain to Reykjavik to follow up on her case. She even threatened to throw herself into the waterfall if the construction would begin. Her attempts failed in court but before any damage was done to the waterfall the contract was disposed due to the lack of payments of the rent fee. The struggles of Sigriður to preserve the waterfall brought to people´s attention the importance of preserving nature and therefore she is often called Iceland´s first environmentalist.
In 1940 the adopted son of Sigriður acquired the waterfall from Sigriður´s father and later sold it to the Icelandic government. Gullfoss and its environs was designated as nature reserve in 1979 to permanently protect the waterfall and allow the public to enjoy this unique area."
Previous text is from the official website of the waterfall: gullfoss.is
We were up early, so to get breakfast in time so we could find the bus stop for our tour for the day.
The Golden Circle is a term used for several natural wonders about an hour or so from Reykjavík. Most people who come here do the tour.
So were we.
More light snow during the night, but this turned heavier as we waited for the bus.
Eventually, a large black mini bus pulled up, and the driver, Trond, called our name, and so only us out of a dozen people waiting got on.
We toured round downtown, picking up folks, but the bus was only half full.
So, we turned north as the snow really started to come down, Trond put the hammer down, and let the studded tyres do their thing,
Once out of the city, it became a virtual white-out, with us apparently following the tyre tracks of the cars in front. We slithered round roundabouts and swerved as Trond pressed the accelerator.
Most hire cars are fitted with all seasons tyres, and for the most they work, but in near blizzard conditions, only studded would do.
We turned up the long road that climbed to the national park, and in front, cars slithered at a crawl. Several did not make it and came off the road, lift in ditches at crazy angles.
We did fine.
It was a blizzard now, and the sky and landscaped merged, with just a faint grey line marking where the two met.
After passing three jack-knifed cars, we arrived at the national park. We were to walk from the visitor centre here to the bus park nearly a kilometre away.
I like a challenge.
We were to walk down the rift valley, created as the two great plates, North American and Eurasian move apart.
Trond said the weather was clearing from the east.
We laughed.
Outside the bus, the snow still fell.
We walked through the visitor centre and shop, then up to the observation deck.
Amazingly, the snow stopped and the view opened up, there was even sunshine away to the west.
From the viewing platform there was a steep ramp leading down the narrow rift, this we all had to walk down to meet the bus some 600m away.
While not quite as wide and grand as the Great Rift Valley, this too marks the point at which two plates are moving apart from each other, and in turn creating new land between.
I did not slip, but took my time, and near the end there was a tumbling stream over which the path leapt on a small bridge.
Back onto the bus for a short drive to a farm for some home-made icecream, and from the shop we look look into the stables where the herd was chewing the cud, preparing the next batch.
And then back onto the main road and up to Geysir geothermal area, where we had 90 minutes to wander, see the geyser and get something for lunch.
All Golden Circle trips stop here, and is crowded, but with the geyser erupting every 8 minutes, there's usually a gap in which to witness it.
Sadly, each eruption last about 2 seconds, so by the time it starts, you raise the camera, its over.
We walked back to the centre, and Jools went to fetch burger and fries for us both, and a drink, which came to £54 and were very average indeed.
Back on the bus for a short drive to the next to last stop, Gullfoss.
The plan had to park down on the lower levels, but the road down was closed because of snow, and the steps from the upper level closed because of ice.
So, everyone was to have to wait their turn at the upper view point.
Dozens of coaches and buses parked, and a long line of people walking out to the viewing platform snaked across the snow.
I joined them, and was rewarded with spectacular views of the waterfall, now half frozen in the cold weather. I took shots, a video, and what else is there, join in with the influencers in taking selfies to prove I had been there?
I walked back to the bus, so to be first back for a change, and follow the footie on the BBC website, Norwich home against Coventry.
We all got back, then drove to the last stop: the Secret Lagoon, where some, including Jools went for a dip, while I stayed dry, had a coffee laced with Baileys, and followed the games.
City came from behind to win 2-1, while outside the snow began to come down heavier than ever.
Time to go back to Reykjavík. So we climb back on the bus and back over the lane that snaked over the moorland to the main road. The sun had set, but the light didn't fade much, just got flatter.
The snow came down again, and we joined a long line of cars heading back to the capital, sometime overtaking to get some clear road.
In the murk of dusk, mountains loomed on the right hand side, coming out of the dark blue gloom, showing where old volcanoes still sleep on.
It took nearly two hours, and the blizzard was really coming down, so imagine our surprise to find a fun run having closed off most of the roads in the city centre, and as we came to a stop by a barrier, I realised we were just a block from the hotel, so jumped out and walk up beside the runner.
We went into the hotel restaurant for dinner, had lamb burger followed by crème brulee all washed down by a bottle of fizz.
We know how to live
Upon arrival in Iceland we were met by news that the winter's first storm was scheduled to sweep across Iceland over the following week. With it, came 14m/s+ winds, dust storms, and harsh conditions. But, it also made for beautiful photography, fresh dustings of snow, and a proper taste of Iceland's harsh but magnificent weather.
These photos were taken over a 7 day, 2,000km road trip along the South East and Eastern Fjords.
For licensing or usage requests, please reach out directly.
Looking straight down at the last "step" of the Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall) in Iceland during the Golden Circle tour.
Gullfoss means golden waterfall. If it were not raining, we might see a rainbow in the mist coming back up.
Iceland
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 is now protected.
Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of Tómas Tómasson, was determined to preserve the waterfall's condition and even threatened to throw herself down. Although it is widely believed, the very popular story that Sigríður saved the waterfall from exploitation is untrue. A stone memorial to Sigriður, located above the falls, depicts her profile
Gullfoss (English: Golden Falls) is a waterfall located in the canyon of Hvítá river in southwest Iceland
No photostream of Iceland is complete without a couple of these...
Gullfoss, waterfall in all it's autumn glory. Ok, it was actually winter, but the lack of snow sure makes it feel like autumn.
This is a straight shot with a wide angle lens, a round of post-editing with the Gimp and a frame to emphasize the scale of things.
The Gullfoss waterfall or ''Golden Falls'' is Europe's most powerfull waterfall, it is located in the river Hvítá, in english it means White River.
Gullfoss waterfall. 11m and 21m steps then a 32m (105ft) crevice. Unfortunately, there were no barrels knocking about.
I tried out some Cokin ND filters for the first time here. I was most disappointed that they aren't "neutral" at all. There was about 1 stop more blue than green, and another stop of red on top of that... so all the shots had a strange pink/purple cast to them. I've really struggled to correct the colour -- hence this one looking better in B&W!
Upon arrival in Iceland we were met by news that the winter's first storm was scheduled to sweep across Iceland over the following week. With it, came 14m/s+ winds, dust storms, and harsh conditions. But, it also made for beautiful photography, fresh dustings of snow, and a proper taste of Iceland's harsh but magnificent weather.
These photos were taken over a 7 day, 2,000km road trip along the South East and Eastern Fjords.
For licensing or usage requests, please reach out directly.
Gullfoss is in the river Hvítá, which has its origin in the glacier lake Hvítávatn at Lángjökull glacier about 40km north of Gullfoss.
From Wikipedia:
is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland.
The Hvítá river flows southward, and 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 metres or 36 feet, and 21 metres or 69 feet) into a crevice 32 metres (105 ft) deep. The crevice, about 20 metres (66 ft) wide and 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river. The average amount of water running down the waterfall is 141 cubic metres (5,000 cu ft) per second in the summer and 80 cubic metres (2,800 cu ft) per second in the winter. The highest flood measured was 2,000 cubic metres (71,000 cu ft) per second.
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 is now protected.
Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of Tómas Tómasson, was determined to preserve the waterfall's condition and even threatened to throw herself down. Although it is widely believed, the very popular story that Sigríður saved the waterfall from exploitation is untrue.[citation needed] A stone memorial to Sigriður, located above the falls, depicts her profile.