Overview
About Gullfoss Waterfall
Two falls, one name
Gullfoss is not a single vertical drop. The upper fall descends 11 metres and the lower one 21 metres, giving the river its stepped appearance. Looking from different designated viewpoints helps reveal those two stages. It is a useful contrast with nearby Geysir: here the spectacle is moving river water, rather than a geothermal eruption.
Sources: Visit South Iceland · Gullfoss ↗
The river and its protected surroundings
Gullfoss lies on the Hvítá river. The falls and Hvítárgljúfur at Brattholt were protected in 1979. The landscape around the water is part of the protected area too, so keep to visitor paths and respect any barriers or closures rather than seeking a closer photograph beyond them.
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