Gullfoss!

Sunday, April 16.  Gullfoss means "Golden Falls," and WOW!  Although it was cold, the falls were perfect.  They have a double cascade and drop over 100 feet before falling down a narrow ravine. 

A little history.... The falls have been visited since 1875, but were almost destroyed in the 1920s when foreign investors wanted to dam the Hvita river for a hydroelectric project.  When the landowner refused to sell, the developers went directly to the government for approval.  Apparently, the owners' daughter walked all of the way to Reykjavik barefoot to protest.  She threatened to jump down the waterfall if the development went forward.  Luckily, the investors failed to pay the lease, the agreement was nullified and the falls escaped destruction.  Gullfoss was donated to the nation in 1975 and has been a nature reserve ever since.