Gullfoss


A huge water falls of Gullfoss, Iceland.

Gullfoss (Gold Falls ) is a waterfall located in the canyon of Hvita river, Iceland. About one kilometer above
the falls, it turns sharply to the left and flows down into a wide curved three-step stair-case and then abruptly
plunges in two stages ( 11m and 21 m ) into 32m deep crevice. The width of the crevice is about 20m, and
its length is 2.5 km., which lies at right angles to the flow of the river.
As one first approaches the falls, the crevice is obscured from view, so that it appears that a mighty river
simply vanishes into th earth.



During the first half of the 20th century, there was a speculation about using Gullfoss to generate electricity.
However, investors' attempts were unsuccessful, pertly 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 Hvita, which would have changed the
waterfall forever. This was not done, and now the waterfall is protected.
( Source:Wikipedia )


Gullfoss at the upper left corner of this map

A huge water falls of Gullfoss.

It appears that a mighty river simply vanishes into th earth.

Gas station and general store with a friendly staff along Route 1


ヒウィタ川の大渓谷にグトルフォス滝がある。その広さ、長さ、何段にも分かれて大量の水が流れ下る様は壮観だ。
滝に近づくにつれ細かい水しぶきが全身に降り注ぐ。ナイヤガラの滝も壮観だが、ここグトルフォスとは比較に
ならない。直ぐそばまですごい迫力で水流が迫り来る。ちょっとした油断で大きな水の塊に飲み込まれてしまい
そうになる。深く刻まれたクレパスは不気味だ。流れ落ちる大量の川の水が地球の割れ目にそのまま吸い込まれて
しまうような錯覚さえ覚える。その壮大さはたとえようもない。これだけの大量の水と落差を見て誰もが考える
ことは水力発電所の建設であろう。２０世紀初頭、何人かの起業家がその建設を企画した。しかし、住民の反対と
資金難のため断念したようだ。土地はその後アイスランド政府に譲渡され、この世界でもまれに見る雄大な自然
景観を守ることが出来たのである。


Iceland
Arrival to Reykjavik Blue Lagoon Pingvellir, Strokkur Gullfoss Hekla Skogafoss, Vik Glacia
Akureyri, Husavik Dettifoss, Myvatn City of Reykjavik


黄金の滝　グトルフォス
2009年7月執筆　医学博士　宮本順伯
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This information was provided by the Smokefree Hotel and Travel.
The report was written and photographed in July 2009 by Junhaku Miyamoto, MD, PhD.
Copyright(C) 2009 Junhaku Miyamoto, All rights reserved.