Gullfoss in winter, Iceland
Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. The crevice, about 20 m wide, and 2.5 km in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river. The average amount of water running over this waterfall is 140 m_/s in the summertime and 80 m_/s in the wintertime. As one first approaches the falls, the crevice is obscured from view, so that it appears that a mighty river simply vanishes into the earth. 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. Even after it was sold, there were plans to utilize Hvítá, which would have changed the waterfall forever. This was not done, and now the waterfall is protected.
Year: 2013
From album: Iceland's "Green Economy"
Photographer: Peter Prokosch