Goðafoss

Goðafoss
Aerial panorama of Goðafoss
Goðafoss is located in Iceland
Goðafoss
LocationNorth of Iceland
Total height12 m (39 ft)
Total width30 m (98 ft)

Goðafoss (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈkɔːðaˌfɔsː] ⓘ) is a waterfall in northern Iceland. It is located along the country's main ring road at the junction with the Sprengisandur highland road,[1] about 45 minutes from Akureyri. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 metres over a width of 30 metres.[1] A 1.8-mile hiking trail loops around the waterfall area.[2]

Name

The origin of the waterfall's name is not completely clear. In modern Icelandic, the name can be read either as "waterfall of the goð (gods)" or "waterfall of the goði (chieftain)." Linguist and placename expert Svavar Sigmundsson suggests that the name derives from two crags at the falls which resemble pagan idols. In 1879–1882, a myth was published in Denmark according to which the waterfall was named when the lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði made Christianity the official religion of Iceland in the year 999 or 1000. Upon returning home from the Alþingi, Þorgeir supposedly threw his statues of the Norse gods into the waterfall. However, although the story of Þorgeir's role in the adoption of Christianity in Iceland is preserved in Ari Þorgilsson's Íslendingabók, no mention is made of Þorgeir throwing his idols into Goðafoss. The legend appears to be a nineteenth-century fabrication.[3] Nevertheless, a window in Akureyrarkirkja, the main church at Akureyri, illustrates this story.

  • Goðafoss seen from the Eastern bank in summer
    Goðafoss seen from the Eastern bank in summer
  • Goðafoss seen from the Eastern bank in winter
    Goðafoss seen from the Eastern bank in winter
  • Panorama of Goðafoss in winter
    Panorama of Goðafoss in winter

History

E/S Goðafoss was an Icelandic ship named after the waterfall, it was used to transport both freight and passengers. It was sunk by the German submarine U-300 in World War II, resulting in great loss of life.[4][5]

In 2020, the waterfall was granted protected status.[6][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Andrew Evans (2011). Iceland. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 184162361X, 9781841623610. Page 365.
  2. ^ "Godafoss Waterfall". AllTrails.com. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  3. ^ Svavar Sigmundsson. (2015, 29. júní). Er það rétt að Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði hafi hent goðum í Goðafoss? Vísindavefurinn. Retrieved from http://visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=70316
  4. ^ Óttar Sveinsson (23 November 2003). "Árásin á Goðafoss" [The attack on Goðafoss]. Útkall - Árás á Goðafoss [Called out - Attack on Goðafoss] (in Icelandic). Morgunblaðið. pp. 24–25. ISBN 9979956917. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Tímarit.is.Open access icon
  5. ^ "Kafbátur sökti Goðafoss" [Submarine sank Goðafoss]. Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 12 November 1944. pp. 1–2, 6, 12. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Tímarit.is.Open access icon
  6. ^ Vala Hafstað (12 June 2020). "Goðafoss Waterfall Declared Protected". Nature and Travel. Iceland Monitor. Archived from the original on 6 October 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  7. ^ Askham, Poppy (2020-06-12). "Iceland's Goðafoss Waterfall Granted Protected Status". The Reykjavik Grapevine. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
Wikimedia Commons logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Goðafoss.

65°40′48″N 17°32′24″W / 65.68000°N 17.54000°W / 65.68000; -17.54000

Content Disclaimer

Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.

  1. The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
  2. There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
  3. It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
  4. Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
  5. Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.