Located in northern Iceland, Goðafoss is one of the most famous in Iceland with ties not only to the original Norse settlers in the 8th and 9th centuries but also to the conversion of Iceland from paganism to Christianity.
History and Religion
Iceland was first settled in 874 AD by Norse settlers who came from Norway. At this time the Vikings still followed the Norse gods (think Odin, Loki, Thor, Freya, etc.). However by 1000 AD, Europe was steadilty converting to Christianity (at least, those places that had not been converted previously) with Iceland on of the few remaining exceptions. At this time, Norway sent a declaration to Iceland’s annual parliament: convert or be invaded.
According to contemporary accounts, debate went back and forth on what to do about this declaration. Eventually it was left up to one man: Þorgeir (the Þ is a “th” sound) Ljósvetningagoði. Þorgeir was a chieftan/priest as well as a lawspeaker – one who knew and recited the laws by heart from a time before they were written down. According to accounts, Þorgeir prayed throughout the night, ultimately deciding that Iceland should convert to Christianity.
Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði was definitely a real person recorded in Iceland’s historical records, but what he did next may just be a story. It is said that Þorgeir returned to the north where he was from and threw his pagan idols into a water. This waterfall was named Goðafoss, meaning “Waterfall of the gods” or, perhaps more acurately “Waterfall of chiefs/priests”.
An alternate suggestion for the origin of the name is that two of the crags that form the waterfall look like old Norse idols.
Goðafoss Today
Goðafoss today is one of Iceland’s main attractions due to its easy access and historical relevance. For those who make it out of the southwest area, it is a major stop in the north of the country.
Goðafoss is located on the river Skjálfandafljót. It is 12 metres high and 30 metres wide in a shallow crescent shape.
There is also some hiking in this area, including a 1.8-km trail directly around the waterfall area and others that lead into the countryside.
Getting to Goðafoss
Goðafoss sits on Iceland’s ring road known as Route 1 to the east of Akureyri and west of Lake Mývatn. Driving straight from Reykjavik to Goðafoss takes about 5 hours 30 minutes, so it is highly recommended to stay in the area, such as in Akureryi, Iceland’s second largest settlement.
The waterfall is free to view and parking is also free. You can park on either the east or west sides of the waterfall and get to the opposite side via a foot bridge. The eastern side has better views of the waterfall, allowing you to get closer to the bottom of the falls. The west side does not have this option.
There is also a café and store on the east side where you can buy souvenirs, clothing, winter gear and more.
Here is also a short video of the falls:
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