The meaning of godafoss (lit. "waterfall of the gods") in the reference book of characters and cult objects of Greek mythology

05.12.2023

The shape of the waterfall resembles a crescent, cascading streams of water flow down basalt columns and fall from a 12-meter height onto a flat piece of land.

The columns divide the water flow into three parts, two parts of which are almost identical in width, the third part seems to be enclosed in a stone channel. This is another mystery of the waterfall, because correct geometric shapes are extremely rare in nature. What is noteworthy: despite its small size, splashes from falling water rise high into the sky, which is impossible not to notice even from a long distance. This waterfall always amazes the viewer, especially during the cold season: the falling water freezes without reaching its destination.

At such moments, it seems that some wizard has stopped time with the power of his gift, and only at his request the water is about to begin its eternal dance with a hard and impregnable stone again.

The name Godafoss means “Waterfall of the Gods” in the local language. This name is associated with a legend according to which local residents threw idols of the first religions into the water before converting to Christianity in 999-1000 AD. e. According to another legend, local residents named the waterfall in honor of the statues of gods that once surrounded the approaches to the waterfall. Despite all the legends, the spectacle that can be seen “riding” one of the stone columns of the waterfall defies description, especially in early autumn, when the fog, meeting the morning sun, spreads across the water surface and changes reality, transporting the observer to distant places.

In the north of Iceland, near Akureyri, on the Skjaulfandafljout River, which can be translated as “river with a trembling breath,” there is one of Iceland’s famous waterfalls - Godafoss, “God’s Waterfall.” Once upon a time, figures of the pagan gods of Scandinavia towered around it: Odin, Thor, Loki and others. But later, when the decision was made to convert to Christianity in the fields of Ting, the former gods were thrown into the abyss of the waterfall. It is now difficult to say for sure which god Godafoss is named after. But there is no doubt that this is the “waterfall of God”, it is so powerful, majestic and beautiful.

Godafoss is not the tallest waterfall in Iceland, only 12 m high and about 30 m wide. It has a crescent shape and is divided in the middle into two almost equal streams, between which two basalt columns create a stone channel for another narrow and most intense central stream.

The waterfall amazes with its crystal purity and riot of colors of the surrounding landscape. The cloud of spray around it makes it noticeable from afar. And in the cold winter, the falling streams of water freeze before reaching the bottom, and everything around turns into an enchanted winter kingdom.

GODAFOSS (LITERALLY "WATERFALL OF THE GODS")

waterfall in Iceland.

Characters and cult objects of Greek mythology. 2012

Natural attractions of Iceland

There are not many attractions in the city directly on the territory of the city - the main objects popular with tourists are located outside of it: Godafoss waterfall, volcanic lake Eskjuvan, Mount Hlidarfjall and much more. A special place is the Godafoss waterfall; its relatively small size (12 meters high and more than 30 meters wide) does not spoil the overall impression of the beauty created by nature. The waterfall originates from the Skjalfandafljout River, which in turn is saturated with meltwater from the nearest glacier.

Godafoss waterfall - the most mysterious on Earth

The shape of the waterfall resembles a crescent, cascading streams of water flow down basalt columns and fall from a 12-meter height onto a flat piece of land. The columns divide the water flow into three parts, two parts of which are almost identical in width, the third part seems to be enclosed in a stone channel. This is another mystery of the waterfall, because correct geometric shapes are extremely rare in nature. What is noteworthy: despite its small size, splashes from falling water rise high into the sky, which is impossible not to notice even from a long distance. This waterfall always amazes the viewer, especially during the cold season: the falling water freezes without reaching its destination. At such moments, it seems that some wizard has stopped time with the power of his gift, and only at his request the water is about to begin its eternal dance with a hard and impregnable stone again.

The name Godafoss means “Waterfall of the Gods” in the local language. This name is associated with a legend according to which local residents threw idols of the first religions into the water before converting to Christianity in 999-1000 AD. e. According to another legend, local residents named the waterfall in honor of the statues of gods that once surrounded the approaches to the waterfall. Despite all the legends, the spectacle that can be seen “riding” one of the stone columns of the waterfall defies description, especially in early autumn, when the fog, meeting the morning sun, spreads across the water surface and changes reality, transporting the observer to a distant place known only to him. fantasy world.

Let's talk about one of the most amazing waterfalls in Iceland - Godafoss. Description, location, tourist infrastructure and even the closest hotel to Godafoss.

Iceland is called the land of 1,000 waterfalls. How wrong they are - in fact, there are 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland. Glaciers covering 10% of the island's area give rise to many rivers. Thanks to the ocean and the warm Gulf Stream, there is a lot of precipitation here, so the rivers are wide and deep. Violent volcanic activity and ongoing mountain building have created a huge number of waterfalls and rapids.

One of the most famous in the country is the Goðafoss waterfall.

Description and facts

This is not the largest waterfall in Iceland. Its height is about 12 meters and its width is about 30 meters. It is located on the Skjaulfandafljout River, which originates from the Vatnajökull glacier.

The name of the river translates as “river with trembling breath.” Its waters fall from a horseshoe-shaped basalt ledge, raising a huge cloud of spray visible from afar. It looks very beautiful at sunrise.

The stream is divided by basalt columns into three parts: two wide on the sides, and another narrow one between them. An almost symmetrical picture is formed. The water under the waterfall is bright turquoise and very clear. In winter, the Godafoss waterfall sometimes freezes, the water freezes right in the air, giving the impression of time standing still. It impresses travelers even more during this period.

Godafoss - from time immemorial

The name "Godafoss" is translated from Icelandic as "waterfall of the Gods." There are several versions of its origin. But put them together and you get quite a long history, going back to 1000 AD. e.

At that time, the inhabitants of Iceland converted to Christianity. Here it is necessary to deviate from the topic and mention that it is one of the few countries that adopted Christianity peacefully, without violence and bloodshed. This happened thanks to the wisdom of the local pagan leadership in the person of the “law-speaker” Thorgeir Torkelson. Seeing the inevitability of accepting Christianity and understanding the inadmissibility of violence and division in society, he was able to offer a reasonable compromise.

Officially, Iceland accepted Christianity, but every citizen could privately perform pagan rituals, which eventually died out on their own.

Such splendor awaits you near the city of Akureyri

Godafoss in winter. The main thing is to dress warmly!

But let's return to the waterfall. On the basalt columns around Godafoss there were figures of pagan gods: Odin, Thor, Loki and others. And Thorgeir, to seal the agreement, threw them into the water with his own hands. A church in a nearby town has stained glass windows depicting this event, which gives Godafoss its name.

Location of Godafoss waterfall

Godafoss is located in the very north of Iceland, 50 km from Akureyri city. It is the fourth largest city in the country. It is considered the northern capital. Its population is 18,000 people. The main attraction of the city is the Akureyarkirkija Lutheran Church, which houses the famous stained glass windows.

The waterfall is located very close to the main ring road No. 1, but because of this there are always a lot of tourists there, and in the summer there are even traffic jams.

Tourist infrastructure

There are paths along the banks of the river and a pedestrian bridge. It is comfortable to sit on the stones surrounding the waterfall and enjoy nature. You can go down to the water from the eastern shore, from there the best views open up. Fans of extreme recreation can kayak down the river and even overcome a waterfall in this way. A kilometer downstream is the tourist complex of Foxhoutl. There is a hotel and a restaurant there.

How to get to Godafoss waterfall

To get to the Godafoss waterfall, you must first get from Reykjavik, where all tourists fly from, to Akureyri.

This can be done in two ways:

by bus or car - 4 hours;
by plane of local airlines - 45 minutes;

From Akureyri you can get to the waterfall in about an hour along highway No. 1:

with a private tour;
by regular bus;
with a rented car.

An excellent road leads to Godafoss from the town of Húsavik located to the north, where tourists go to watch whales, and from Lake Mývatn, famous for its pseudo-craters. Waterfall address: Nordurland-Eystra, 640, Iceland.

Summer is traditionally considered the best time to visit Iceland. But starting in September, prices in hotels and car rentals drop significantly, so it makes sense to consider traveling to other times of the year, each of which can please the traveler in its own way.