![]() ![]() ![]() The largest attraction of the Golden Circle is Thingvellir National Park. Or during the summer when it's crowned with a near-permanent rainbow as the midnight sun shines on. Thankfully we can now enjoy the majestic sight of Gullfoss at any time, whether it's during winter when it's surrounded by snow and ice with the northern lights in the sky above. A memorial was raised in dedication to Sigridur in 1978 on the cliff overlooking the waterfall for her effort to protect Gullfoss. This makes her Iceland's first environmentalist and helped establish a mindset within the country to protect the natural beauty of Iceland. But with help of the arduous work of Sigridur Tomasdottir, the daughter of the landowner of the farm adjacent to the waterfall, the British developers eventually withdrew their plans. Unbelievably, Gullfoss was almost lost in the early 20th century when British developers sought to harness its incredible force for hydroelectric power. It is just a ten-minute drive from Geysir and is the furthest point on the Golden Circle from Reykjavik. The 'Golden Falls', Gullfoss, is one of the most beautiful and powerful waterfalls in Iceland, plummeting 105 feet (32 meters) in two tiers into the river gorge of the popular rafting river Hvita. ![]() The geothermal area has free admission and is always open to visitors, so you could even marvel at the erupting hot springs under the northern lights. There are also two other smaller geysers, Smidur and Litli-Strokkur, that can be easily visited, as well as a hotel, restaurant, cafe, and gift shop across the road. The surrounding area is dotted with various fumaroles, hot springs, and mud pits. Strokkur's reliable activity guarantees a picture-perfect shot of the hot spring in action when you visit the valley. Every five to ten minutes, it bursts a column of boiling water to heights that can reach over 130 feet (40 meters). Though Geysir itself is currently in a phase of inactivity, its neighbor Strokkur more than makes up for it. The area is most famous for being the home of the geyser from which all other geysers derive their name: Geysir. The Geysir geothermal area is a hot-spring paradise in Haukadalur valley. Within the three locations of the Golden Circle are some of the clearest examples of Iceland’s fascinating geological forces, magnificent landscapes, and rich culture. Many of these excursions have additional activities, such as snorkelling or snowmobiling, or are conducted in a unique style, such as by helicopter, or under the midnight sun. It is easy to do within half a day by those who join a Golden Circle tour or rent a car. With its popularity, the trail is featured in many guided packages, including this immersive 6-Day Winter Package, and self-drive tours, such as this 10-Day Road Trip. The Golden Circle is a 190-mile (300 kilometers) route of Iceland's three most popular natural attractions: Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall. ![]()
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