Goðafoss

The Goðafoss is one of the most famous waterfalls in Iceland.

Location on Skjálfandafljót

It is located on the territory of the municipality Þingeyjarsveit in the northeast of the country near the beginning of the Sprengisandur highland road within sight of the ring road. East of Goðafoss is the place Laugar.

The water of the Skjálfandafljót plunges over a width of about 30 m is about 12 m in depth.

Naming

According to legend, the Gode Þorgeir to have thrown around the year 1000 AD after the agreed takeover of Christianity as the state religion, the last pagan idols in Goðafoss. Hence the name ( = gods waterfall ). A stained glass window image in the cathedral church of Akureyri ( Akureyrarkirkja ) recalls this story.

Steamship Goðafoss

A 1921 built in Denmark Icelandic steamship was named E / S Goðafoss. The ship sailed from New York coming during the Second World War at the top of the convoy UR -142 and was sunk on 10 November 1944 by the German submarine U 300 (VII C41 ). 24 passengers died, there were 19 survivors.