The Miser's Gold and the Woman Who Saved Gullfoss

Gullfoss, Hvítá River, South Iceland

One legend says a miserly farmer threw his gold into Gullfoss rather than let anyone inherit it; the true story of the farmer's daughter who fought for decades — walking barefoot to Reykjavik — to stop the falls being dammed is just as remarkable.

The Hvita river narrows and drops in two stages at Gullfoss — the 'golden waterfall' — throwing up spray that catches rainbows on clear days and, in winter, freezes into ice sculptures along the canyon walls. One old story says the name comes from a wealthy but miserly farmer who lived nearby; rather than let his gold pass to anyone after his death, he loaded it into a chest and hurled it into the falls, where it remains, some say, to this day. The more recent history is documented fact, not legend, and just as remarkable. Gullfoss belonged to the farm at Brattholt, and in 1907 an English investor sought to lease the falls to build a hydroelectric dam. The farmer's daughter, Sigriður Tomasdottir, spent years fighting the lease in court, walking the roughly 120 kilometres to Reykjavik and back on foot multiple times to pursue the case, and reportedly threatened to throw herself into the canyon if construction began. The lease was voided in 1929, and Gullfoss was eventually given to the Icelandic state, protected from development. Sigriður is remembered today as Iceland's first environmentalist, and a memorial to her stands at the falls she refused to let anyone dam — or drown in gold.

Folklore Disclaimer: These accounts are drawn from local tradition, oral history, and community memory. They are not presented as factual claims.

Location accuracy: Approximate. Coordinates indicate the general area.