Gullfoss Waterfall

Haukadalur, Southwest Iceland, Iceland

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Gullfoss Waterfall is a powerful two‑tiered cascade in the Haukadalur Valley of southwest Iceland, where the Hvítá river plunges about 32 meters into a narrow, 2.5‑kilometer‑long canyon carved by glacial meltwater from the Langjökull ice cap. It is one of Iceland’s most famous natural attractions and a key stop on the Golden Circle route, drawing visitors with its dramatic roar, misty spray, and striking views from footpaths that lead right to the edge of the falls. The waterfall drops in two main steps, first about 11 meters and then roughly 21 meters, with tens of cubic meters of water rushing over the brink every second, creating rainbows in the sunlight on clear days. Gullfoss is also notable for its conservation history: it was threatened by hydroelectric plans in the early 20th century, but efforts led by local figure Sigríður Tómasdóttir helped preserve it, and it now sits protected on Icelandic state land for sightseeing and hiking.