Gullfoss in Blaskogabyggd, Iceland
Gullfoss is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland.
The wide 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, 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.
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 is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland.
Together with Þingvellir and the geysers of Haukadalur, Gullfoss forms part of the Golden Circle, a popular day excursion for tourists in Iceland.
History
In the early days of the last century, Gullfoss was at the centre of much controversy regarding foreign investors and their desire to profit off Iceland’s nature.
In the year 1907, an English businessman, Howell, sought to utilise the waterfall’s energy and harboured ambitions to use its energy to fuel a hydroelectric plant.
At the time, Gullfoss was owned by a farmer named Tómas Tómasson.
Tómas declined Howell’s offer to purchase the land, stating famously “I will not sell my friend!” He would, however, go on to lease Howell the land without the knowledge of a loophole that would allow him to proceed with his plans.
It was Tómas’ daughter, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, who would lead the charge to stop Howell’s ambitions.
Having grown up on her father’s sheep farm where she helped pave the first road to Gullfoss, she sought to get the contract nullified, hurriedly saving her own money to hire a lawyer.
The ensuing legal battle was an uphill struggle; the case continued for years, forcing Sigríður to travel many times by foot to Reykjavík, a distance of over 100 kilometres.
Circumstances became so difficult that Sigríður threatened to throw herself into the waterfall if any construction began.
Her tenacity, however, resulted in success.
In 1929, Howell’s withdrew from the lease, unable to keep up with the costs and difficulties of his plan.
The waterfall fell back into the hands of the Icelandic people.
Today, Sigríður is recognised for her perseverance in protecting Gullfoss and is often hailed as Iceland’s first environmentalist.
As such, she is one of the most famous figures in Iceland’s history.
Her contribution is forever marked in stone; a plaque detailing her plight sits at the top of Gullfoss.
Interestingly, the lawyer who assisted Sigríður Sveinn Björnsson, went on to go down in history too; he became the first president of an independent Iceland in 1944.
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