Gullfoss

In the early 20th century, foreign investors sought to use Gullfoss for hydroelectric power. Tómas Tómasson, the farmer at Brattholt, refused an offer in 1907, but the falls later passed into the control of men acting for foreign interests. His daughter, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, campaigned tirelessly against the plans, travelling to meet officials. The lease payments eventually stopped and the agreement lapsed.

The Icelandic state bought Gullfoss in 1945, and land beside the falls was later donated by Einar Guðmundsson. The area was formally protected in 1979. A memorial to Sigríður, often described as Iceland's first environmentalist, stands near the falls.

For Icelanders, Gullfoss is more than a beautiful waterfall: the story of Sigríður Tómasdóttir and the campaign to keep the falls in public hands is told in schools and helped shape the country's approach to protecting its natural treasures. Land rangers from the Environment Agency of Iceland work at the reserve year-round.