Iceland’s Historic Godafoss
An easy drive and about an hour outside Akureyri, Iceland is Godafoss waterfall. If you are traveling around Iceland or on a cruise that makes a call on the city of Akureyri this is a sight not to be missed.
History
Godafoss is the “Waterfall of the Gods”. Long ago there was a violent period in Iceland’s history where pagan clans that worshiped the old gods fought with those that had accepted Christianity. The falls was named from Icelandic sagas, because in the year 1000 AD, a local chieftain named Thorgeir Thorkelsson converted to Christianity after which he had his people throw the pagan idols into the waterfall. This symbolized the end of Iceland’s pagan wars with Christianians in Iceland ushering in a new period of peace.
Getting There
To get there from Akureyri there are two main choices; a bus tour of which there are numerous choices in town or through your cruise. The other option is to rent a car, that are reasonably priced. From Akureyri take Route 1 across the causeway out of town all the way to Godafoss. Route 1 or the Ring Road Icelandic Þjóðvegur 1 or Hringvegur[ˈ is a national road that circles the entire country.
At the falls you’ll find a restaurant, gift shop and plenty of parking.
The trip is and interesting drive through a hilly landscape out to at a fractured stretch of countryside marked by rugged volcanic rock and a river flowing through a narrow canyon. A short distance up the canyon is Godafoss Waterfall. It is one of Iceland’s seven major waterfalls and one of the more popular.
The Intentional Travelers 