Iceland , Gullfoss Waterfall - 2025.

The Construction and History of Gullfoss Waterfall. The waterfall consists of two distinct steps. The first, shorter one, is 11 meters high, and the second, 21 meters. The walls on either side of the waterfall reach heights of up to 70 meters, descending into the great Gullfossgjúfur canyon. Don't be surprised if the powerful torrent of the waterfall… gets you thoroughly soaked. In summer, it pours approximately 140 cubic meters of water every second! The wind often carries the water splashing at the bottom of the waterfall directly onto the trail and parking lots, so if you want to walk up to the waterfall itself, you might end up soaked. The origin of the name Gullfoss is not entirely clear. One theory suggests it comes from the golden hue of evening light that colors the color of its water. Another suggests that the name was inspired by the rainbow that often appears in the sky when the sun hits the waterfall. Another comes from the travel journal of Sveinn Palsson (1762–1840; Icelandic naturalist, ethnographer, and physician). The story, which Palsson heard from local people, tells that in nearby Gygjarholl, there once lived a farmer named Gygur. Gygur had a wealth of gold, but he couldn't bear the thought of it passing into someone else's hands after his death. To prevent this, he placed the gold in a chest and threw it into the waterfall, which has been called Gullfoss ever since.