Gullfoss

This is a waterfall on the Hvitau River in southwest Iceland, whose name translates as "Golden Waterfall". The water falls in two ledges (first by 11 meters, then by 21), so the total height of the drop is about 32 meters.

Gullfoss is part of the classic "Golden Circle" route near Reykjavik. On the same route, stop by Thingvellir National Park and the Geysir geyser field, so they are usually seen in one trip.

In the summer, the waterfall is the most full of water - about 141 cubic meters of water per second, the spectacle is loud and splashing. In winter, the flow drops to about 80 cubic meters, but the landscape is completely different, with ice and snow on the edges of the canyon.

The river first flows in wide steps, and then suddenly falls into a narrow gorge about 20 meters wide and 2.5 kilometers long. On a sunny day, there is often a rainbow above the water dust - hence the "golden" name.

Yes, at the beginning of the 20th century, they wanted to turn it over to a hydroelectric plant. Sigridur Toumasdouttir, the daughter of a co-owner of the land, actively fought against the transfer of the waterfall to foreigners. Finally, in 1979, Gullfoss received the status of a protected area.