Gullfoss
|
|
 |
 |
 |
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.
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.
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.
Gullfoss was saved from commercial exploitation and is available for the people of Iceland and for the people of the world because of the actions of Sigríđur Tómasdóttir and her father Tómas Tómasson. Foreign investors attempted to buy Gullfoss for its hydro-electric potential and to turn the falls into a private tourist attraction. Thomas and Sigriđur appealed to the Althing, the Icelandic Parliament, to stop this development. Sigriđur was so determined to save the falls that she even threatened to throw herself into the waterfall, if the commercial development went ahead. The public outcry over the possible commercialization of the Gullfoss was so great that the government finally stepped in and purchased the falls. A stone memorial to Sigriđur, located above the falls, depicts her profile.
The place is together with Ţingvellir and the geysirs of Haukadalur part of the most famous sights of Iceland, the Golden Circle.
See also: Waterfalls of Iceland, List of waterfalls
External link
- Gullfoss gallery from islandsmyndir.is (http://www.islandsmyndir.is/html_skjol/sudurland/gullfoss/forsida_gullfoss_1.htm)
- Gullfoss Gallery (http://www.south.is/photo_gullfoss.shtml)de:Gullfoss