Goðafoss
The Goðafoss (Icelandic: waterfall of the gods or waterfall of the goði) is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. It is located in the Bárðardalur district of North-Central Iceland at the beginning of the Sprengisandur highland road. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters.[1]
In the year 999 or 1000 the Lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði made Christianity the official religion of Iceland. After his conversion it is said that upon returning from the Alþingi, Þorgeir threw his statues of the Norse gods into the waterfall. Þorgeir's story is preserved in Ari Þorgilsson's Íslendingabók.
A window in the Cathedral of Akureyri (Akureyrarkirkja) illustrates this story.
MS Goðafoss, an Icelandic ship named after the waterfall, was carrying both freight and passengers. It was sunk by a German U-Boat in World War II, resulting in great loss of lives.
See also
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Fosshóll, Goðafoss.jpg
Fosshóll restaurant at the turnoff to Goðafoss
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Route 1 bridge over Skjálfandafljót.jpg
Ring Road bridge over Skjálfandafljót river
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Godafoss.JPG
Goðafoss
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Goðafoss July 2014.JPG
Panorama
References
- ↑ Andrew Evans (2011). Iceland. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 184162361X, 9781841623610. Page 365.
External links
- Edge of the Arctic- Places to See (English)
- Velkomin á Norðausturland: Áhugaverðir staðir (aka Edge of the Arctic- Places to See in Icelandic)
- World of Waterfalls: Goðafoss
- Panoramic virtual tour of Godafoss
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