Question 1

True or false: A local farmer’s daughter threatened to throw herself into Gullfoss to stop a hydroelectric dam from being built.

Accepted Answer

True. Sigríður Tómasdóttir famously protested the dam in the early 1900s, and her efforts helped preserve the waterfall, though she didn’t actually jump.

Question 2

True or false: Gullfoss is the second-highest waterfall in Iceland, after Dettifoss.

Accepted Answer

False. Gullfoss is about 32 meters tall, much shorter than Dettifoss (44m) and several others like Glymur (198m).

Question 3

True or false: The water at Gullfoss comes entirely from the Hvítá River, which is fed by the Langjökull glacier.

Accepted Answer

True. The Hvítá river originates from the meltwater of Langjökull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier, giving Gullfoss its milky-blue color.

Question 4

True or false: Gullfoss is the only waterfall in Iceland that freezes solid every winter.

Accepted Answer

False. While parts of Gullfoss can freeze, it never fully freezes; strong flow and geothermal influences keep most of it running year-round.

Question 5

True or false: The name 'Gullfoss' translates to 'Golden Falls,' inspired by a golden-colored rock formation nearby.

Accepted Answer

False. The name actually comes from the golden hue of the mist and sunlight reflecting off the water, not a rock formation.

Question 6

True or false: Gullfoss has two distinct tiers, with the water dropping first 11 meters and then 21 meters into the canyon.

Accepted Answer

True. The waterfall consists of two stages: a shorter 11-meter drop followed by a more dramatic 21-meter plunge, totaling 32 meters.

Question 7

True or false: Gullfoss drops into a narrow canyon that was formed by catastrophic glacial floods after the last Ice Age.

Accepted Answer

True. The canyon was carved by massive jökulhlaups (glacial outburst floods) about 8,000 years ago, not gradual erosion.

Question 8

True or false: Gullfoss was once owned by a British company that planned to turn it into a theme park.

Accepted Answer

False. No such plan existed; the biggest threat was a hydroelectric dam, and the waterfall was later gifted to the Icelandic government.

Gullfoss Trivia Questions