The Goðafoss waterfall, the name means Norse gods waterfall and it is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters.
In the year 1000, the Lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði made Christianity the official religion of Iceland. After his conversion, Þorgeir threw his statues of the Norse gods into the waterfall.
The story of Þorgeir’s role in the adoption of Christianity in Iceland is preserved in Íslendingabók, however, makes no mention of Þorgeir throwing his idols into Goðafoss.
MS Goðafoss, an Icelandic ship named after the waterfall, used to transport both freight and passengers. It was sunk by a German U-Boat in World War II, resulting in great loss of life.
