Godafoss is a waterfall in North Iceland, on the Ring Road where it meets the Sprengisandur highland road, about 45 minutes from Akureyri. It drops about 12 metres over a width of about 30 metres.
What and where Godafoss is
Godafoss is in North Iceland. It stands on the Ring Road where it meets the Sprengisandur highland road. It sits on the Skjalfandafljot river, whose upper reaches also feed the basalt-framed falls at Aldeyjarfoss.
The shape and size of the falls
The waterfall drops about 12 metres over a width of about 30 metres.
The name, waterfall of the gods
The name Godafoss can be read as waterfall of the gods or waterfall of the chieftain.
The story of Iceland's conversion
A well-known story links Godafoss to about the year 1000. In that account, the lawspeaker Thorgeir made Christianity Iceland's official religion and was said to have thrown his statues of the Norse gods into the waterfall.
Old sources record Thorgeir's role in adopting Christianity. The detail about throwing idols into the falls appears to be a later legend rather than history.
Seeing Godafoss in North Iceland
From Akureyri, Godafoss is about 45 minutes away, and it sits on the road east toward Lake Myvatn, so many visitors combine the two. If you want to compare options in the region, see North Iceland tours.
Map the drive
Use the Driving Distance Calculator to see how Godafoss: waterfall in North Iceland fits with the other places on your route.