A two-tier waterfall, did that capture your attention. Such is the grandeur of Gullfoss, considered by many as Iceland’s most beautiful waterfall. Located on the Hvita River which begins at Iceland’s second largest glacier, Langjökull, the water dives down in two stages into a long, deep rift: the first is 11 metres while the other is 21 metres. The amount of spray resulting from this is huge and you’ll see dozens of dazzling rainbows decorating the air. The rift was formed by a devastating flood at the end of the Ice Age. But Gullfoss is not just a geological wonder; it is also rich with history.

In the beginning of the 20th century, foreign investors who rented the waterfall from a local farmer saw it as a potential hydroelectric plant. The farmer’s daughter, Sigriður Tómasdóttir, was against this idea and did all she could to fight back, including walking all the way to Reykjavik and threatening to throw herself into the waterfall. She then sought the help of a lawyer and after some time managed to save the waterfall. It was later gazetted as a public property. Interestingly enough, the lawyer went on to become Iceland’s first president.