Goðafoss — Waterfall of the Gods★★★
Where Iceland Became Christian
The Goðafoss ("Waterfall of the Gods") is one of Iceland's most beautiful and historically significant waterfalls. The Skjálfandafljót River plunges here in a 30-meter-wide semicircle 12 meters deep — the shape resembles a horseshoe, and the roaring water forms permanent rainbows in the sunshine.
The Story Behind It
The name dates back to 1000 AD: When the Alþingi in Þingvellir decided that Iceland should become Christian, the law speaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði faced a dilemma. He was himself a pagan and priest of the old faith. After his famous meditation under an animal skin, he announced the decision for Christianity — a compromise: Privately, one could still worship the old gods, but publicly, Christianity prevailed.
On his way home, Þorgeir is said to have stopped at this waterfall and thrown his pagan god statues into the waters — a symbolic break with the old religion, making the waterfall the "Waterfall of the Gods." Whether it really happened this way is historically disputed (the saga sources are unclear), but the story makes Goðafoss the spiritual birthplace of Christian Iceland.
Viewpoints
- East side: From the parking lot on the Ring Road, 5 min. walk. Frontal view of the waterfall. Most popular — and most crowded. The platform offers the classic photo view of the semicircle
- West side: From the second parking lot (access via a gravel road), 5 min. walk. Side view, fewer tourists, dramatic view into the gorge. Here you can get closer to the water — and on clear days, see into the depths of the turquoise pools below the waterfall
Goðafoss is located directly on the Ring Road, 30 min. east of Akureyri — the perfect stop on the way to Mývatn.
In Winter
In winter, Goðafoss transforms into an ice sculpture: The edges freeze, icicles hang from the cliffs, and the waterfall rushes through ice formations. The combination of white ice and turquoise water is breathtaking — and in winter, you often have the waterfall to yourself. Caution: The paths can be icy.
