Gullfoss Waterfall

Relevant to students of Physical Landscapes
Translated as “Golden Falls,” this powerful waterfall provides an excellent case study of river processes, erosion, and the formation of waterfalls. Students can observe the waterfall’s structure and the surrounding canyon, understanding how water shapes the landscape. It is located in the Hvítá river canyon in Southwest Iceland. The water cascades down 32 metres in two stages. Legal and environmental controversy arose when an English businessman named Howell found a loophole in his lease of the waterfall and tried to begin the construction of a hydroelectric plant. Sigríður Tómasdóttir, who fought against the plans, had the waterfall returned to the Icelandic people and is often regarded as Iceland’s first environmentalist.