The Fascinating Geology of Iceland's Spectacular Gullfoss Waterfall

Journey to Iceland's iconic Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall) and part of the Golden Circle Tour to learn its geologic secrets with geology professor Shawn Willsey. Learn why the double set of falls are so different and how glaciers factor into the story.
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Shawn Willsey
College of Southern Idaho
315 Falls Avenue
Twin Falls, ID 83303
Approximate GPS Location: 64.32757, -20.12179

[@shawnwillsey]

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[@notinmanitou]

I hope your students realize how lucky they are to have a teacher like you. We learn so much from your videos, thank you!

[@riverAmazonNZ]

Lol imagine you’re at a magnificent waterfall and some guy’s filming the dirt 😂 Really interesting to see the layers and the faultlines. Great stuff!

[@jcadult101]

"with the crazy wind here" as I'm looking at those water slick rocks everyone is on.

[@margreetanceaux3906]

I learned this only recently. In 1978 my parents and I visited Iceland, and went to see the Gullfoss. My dad considered it even more impressive than the Niagara Falls. He was intrigued by this twisting and turning, and would have been so impressed to learn all this (and so am I).

[@tightropewalkergirl6485]

Try and get to Schaffhausen in Switzerland for incredible waterfalls too - I have also been to Niagara and they are definitely better and you can get very close

[@jacobblumin4260]

Wow! Wow!! The closest thing I'll ever come to a geology field trip to a spectacular place. Please keep it up, Shawn.

[@2flight]

Dynamic, young country. Hard to believe that canyon has only been there a few thousand years!

[@marionnadeau8457]

I had no idea of the geological differences when I visited Gullfoss in 2022 and 2023! Thanks for the explanation, Shawn!

[@SkepticalRaptor]

Wait, you just went from Hawai’i to Iceland? Wow!

[@MountainFisher]

🤣

[@shawnwillsey]

Uh, yeah. Overzealous planning on my part. May 8-14 with students in Hawaii then led a trip to Iceland for some folks on May 22-30. Turn and burn.

[@MountainFisher]

@@shawnwillsey Heck, I thought it was part of your 2022 trip you hadn't released yet. You really did "Turn and Burn."

[@secolerice]

I am fascinated by the geology of Iceland! Thanks for this wonderful lesson and enduring the elements. Absolutely spectacular!

[@kingsgaurd]

We were at Gullfos about a month before this video was taken. It is an amazing place. I can verify it is very windy and very wet.

[@anitapaulsen3282]

Wow!....... Spectacular falls and amazing geology! Thank you......

[@barbaracarlisle8930]

It is so amazing and terrifying at the same time. Visited Iceland (including Gullfoss both times) in fall 2017 and snowy May of the next year. I don’t think there were any fences and my fear of heights kept me well back. Wonderful to learn about its geology.

[@MsMcwill]

My family visited this waterfall last summer. I remember wondering what the geological story was. Now I know. Thank you for the great story!

[@johntharp6925]

A beautiful illustration natural earth processes.

[@jahl5130]

HI I was at Gullfoss last April. I must have lucked out as the weather was much nicer than you are having. I got a great pic of the falls with a rainbow in it. Thanks for your videos.

[@williamlloyd3769]

Appreciate the education! Visited waterfall when stationed at Naval Air Station Keflavik during winter when Gullfoss looked like an ice castle, beautiful

[@pootthatbak2578]

In the p3 asw community we theorized an icelandic fantasy wife was hiding behind every tree😂

[@khajiitkitten5679]

Thanks for being willing--and enthusiastic!--enough to brave the cold and the wet! I guess this reminds us that beauty has to be worked for to appreciate.

[@jenniferlevine5406]

It's a spectacular location, I am really captivated by it. Very dramatic river and the site shows so much of the dynamic history of Iceland. Thank you for this really interesting video and for explaining it so well!

[@user-nt3cz7ws5g]

Thanks Shawn. We we at Gulfoss 6mths ago, it's good to hear and see your video and explanation.

[@jolewis-brown6608]

I visited Gullfoss in 2019; great to have this explanation.

[@nancyscipione9876]

I was there in May 2022. After I watch all your videos, I want to go back as senior citizen “Shawn” student and really “see” what is around me in the lava. You are an exceptional teacher and I imagine you inspire many folks to become geologists!! Please keep recording, showing your diagrams, and teaching us all about our Earth, especially Iceland. Thank YOU!!!!

[@gatekeeper3657]

A real privilege to see and learn from you. I enjoy your field videos paired with classroom videos. Thank you for your efforts. I wish you dry clothes and a hot beverage.

[@shawnwillsey]

After getting pretty soaked, I quickly changed into dry clothes and had perhaps the best hot coco I've ever had at the gift shop.

[@harlycorner]

This was one of the coolest places I saw when I visited Iceland :)

[@garz75]

Fascinating to learn with you about the landscapes I visited last year. The Iceland series is great thanks!

[@shawnwillsey]

Glad you enjoyed it! More to come.

[@susierider55]

I was just there on May 19, 2023. The wind was wicked that day too so this is great. To see what I missed for fear of getting blown away. Love the geology explanation. Follow Idahoan😊.

[@shawnwillsey]

Nice, missed you by four days.

[@jj74554]

This is so interesting the way you're able to read the land like that. I will be here in Sept. and am so grateful to have some of this knowledge while there. Thank you!

[@Rachel.4644]

Exciting, Shawn, and it's obvious you're in your element! Fantastic! Distinctly different angles from the "wet" view. Holy moly, that's a steep fall. So worth it to take a soaking (easy for me to say!)... thanks for taking us along. 👏🏻❣️🤩

[@Panicagq2]

That was awesome, thank you!

[@ethanklein982]

Geology is simply the science of observation. Cool stuff

[@runninonempty820]

I've been to Hawaii once, but Iceland is at the top of my bucket list. So many cool (and hot) features to check out.

[@rossdtool]

These diagrams really help, I have been watching lots of your videos lately because of the amazing sites and great explanations.

[@shawnwillsey]

Great to hear! Thanks for watching.

[@lisadyck9503]

Absolutely fabulous. Thanks to Shawn, I will never look at a cliff the same way again. I will always be wondering what the story is.

[@GeneralFr]

This is magnificent :D

[@davidk7324]

Outstanding, Shawn. Breathtaking interface between different chapters of this land's geologic story. Fascinating. Always a high point when you say "I've got a diagram here . . . ". Any similarity to the upper and lower Mesa Falls in Idaho or apples/oranges?

[@shawnwillsey]

Not really. Mesa Falls are more a story of river diversion by lava. No real faults of consequence there.

[@Mchelle021]

You are a hardcore geology professor! Thank you for all of your efforts and descriptive drawings. I know you didn’t go for a soak at the BL after this outing, but hopefully were able to get warm and cozy later in the day!

[@fernie5128]

That was terrific! Thanks so much.

[@kaasieman]

years ago I visited Iceland and the gulfoss Falls. Great to watch your video now and learn more about these magnificent falls.

[@skagited9617]

Thanks for posting, Shawn.... Awesome set of Falls on that fault intersection!

[@hilandmalt]

Great video! Scuba diving in Silfra is on my bucket list.

[@colinayers3498]

Beautiful! Random question that I've always wondered: why do Eastern Washington and North Idaho have zero hot springs? Eastern Oregon, Southern Idaho, Western Montana, and British Columbia all have hundreds of hot springs, it's never made sense to me

[@colinayers3498]

I grew up near Post Falls and never thought about it, but now I live in Stanley, Idaho and I'm within a half hour from about 50 hot springs

[@lynnerodgers4461]

Very cool. I felt the same way overlooking the lighthouse and cliffs on the Isle of Skye. Windwhipped and soaked to be sure!

[@shlby69m]

We live on flat, dry land BUT love to visit HOSTILE terrain. THX! Beautiful shots of blue filled canyon.

[@susiesue3141]

Really awesome waterfall! Thanks for sharing! 😊

[@dorisotte-janssen3461]

Shawn thank you so much for this every exciting video and thanks for these wonderful drawings ✍️ every good explained.

[@muzikhed]

Geology against all odds ! Admire your determination and enthusiasm. Great video, explanation and views. Thanks.

[@valoriel4464]

Wow! Thx for another grt geo-adventure. ✌🏻

[@pencilpauli9442]

I've heard of island hopping but that's one huge leap for geology to go from Hawaii to Iceland! lol A Song of Ice and Fire? lol

[@guitsynthcw]

Spectacular!

[@tomnolan9651]

Excellent presentation

[@ronboff3461]

excellent as always! thank you

[@stevengeorge5605]

Thank you, Shawn for another great video!

[@jeffmyers7062]

beautiful!

[@mapleleaf902]

Stunning!

[@SoCo_Surfcasting]

Got engaged on the other side. Been to Iceland a few times... nothing else like it.

[@stevew5212]

Kool stuff. Thanks

[@marcialoofboro306]

Wow, cool, thanks!

[@juliamarple3785]

Wow. That is so incredible.

[@epincion]

Very informative thanks

[@gerardacronin334]

Wow! I was there in July but I didn’t learn any of what you just explained. Fascinating!

[@johnschulte347]

Great work and dealing with formidable conditions to make it so educational to watch!

[@lisadyck9503]

Loved the diagrams!

[@billbliss2500]

That was a GREAT VIDEO! Thanks!

[@shawnwillsey]

Glad you liked it!

[@michaelnancyamsden7410]

Good video trip.

[@victoriageorgopoulou4292]

Takk og bless!! Ι have been there so it was soooooo good to get to know some of the geology that explains those formations

[@scifiron]

Thanks!

[@shawnwillsey]

Your kind donation is much appreciated. Thank you!

[@tightropewalkergirl6485]

That was absolutely brilliant thank you - I’m super excited to go there next April and look at the geology for myself

[@bravendyer9529]

Soooooo cool 😎! Wet too 🤭🤓 You answered my question at what I saw yesterday!!!! 🥳 black basalt. I’m hooked , buying your books 📕

[@shawnwillsey]

Thanks!

[@J0hnC0ltrane]

Despite the the elements you made a great video and story along with the other ones from Iceland.

[@hunt4redoctober628]

Awesome scenery again Shawn! The geology is really fascinating. How old do you think the sedimentary units are?

[@shawnwillsey]

Hmm. Not sure. Age of basalt at top of upper falls and basalt of lower falls would easily bracket their age. Did not see that data in any of the papers I read.

[@user-pn8it7xm2w]

Thank you. Di…Cumbria

[@leamarie5627]

I love the diagrams

[@jimbarker506]

Thanks Shawn for getting wet so you could explain the geology here, that is truly spectacular that's for sure, one question if I may, how far away is the glacier or glaciers that feed that river ? Cheers. Jim from Dartford UK

[@AndrewGrey22]

I wonder if the Great Falls of the Missouri looked like this to Lewis in 1804.

[@catsandcrafts171]

It's like a mini version of Victoria Falls, isn't it? And I guess, Niagara too in a sense.

[@robbirobin9657]

I wonder how many visitors notice the striated rocks?😊

[@davidbrooks1724]

that faulting is pretty wicked. obviously they occurred at different times

[@Anne5440_]

Is it possible for this river to have started underneath the glacier? The two faults meeting there have created a really interesting geologic feature. Definitely not a river I would have run. I stopped with low class three. Thanks for showing the layers that make up the stairsteps.

[@shawnwillsey]

With striations and polish from glacial ice on rock, the river clearly came after the glacier.

[@pootthatbak2578]

What about that deep narrow exit canyon? besides the fact it is a fault line..maybe its a different depth due to a collapsed lava tube ?

[@lukeweidner9110]

I'd really like to know how they figured out those were strike slip faults...

[@MountainFisher]

Actually easy. Someone observed the movement. Does not take long to notice when one side moves.

[@shawnwillsey]

This info came from Agust Gudmundsoon's book, The Glorious Geology of Iceland's Golden Circle. He doesn't mention the evidence supporting strike-slip motion.

[@grandpamoonstone7772]

Is that a convergence of plate movement or do they have different time lines?

[@Grandpa82547]

How, and when, did these layers form?

[@shawnwillsey]

I couldn't find an exact age in any of the references I used. The sandstone and conglomerate layers were deposited in a river environment. The basalt layers are lava flows.

[@Grandpa82547]

@@shawnwillsey 8000 years doesn't seem like much time for all those strata. Is Iceland a special case?

[@TheDevice9]

Can the canyon have been carved by water under the ice?

[@shawnwillsey]

Striations and polish on bedrock indicate glacial erosion preceded the modern river and canyon.

[@craigdennis6911]

Visit to glaciers this time Shawn?

[@shawnwillsey]

Yes indeed. Stay tuned for two videos with ice!

[@craigdennis6911]

@@shawnwillsey looking forward to it Shawn.

[@mikeclarke952]

Who screwed up and named it something English speakers can pronounce?

[@rainman7992]

yesterday, Hawaii, today Iceland....he has perfected teleportation technology and isn't sharing, not a nice guy.

[@valoriel4464]

Yes, sneaky. Lol😅

[@shawnwillsey]

Disclaimer: Video posts do not necessarily reflect my location at that time.

[@Fryed_Bryce]

Iceland kicks the crap out of Boise. Let's move to Iceland. We can buy one of those cream-colored thick wool turtlenecks and hunt whale

[@johnschulte347]

Thanks!

[@shawnwillsey]

Thanks for your kind donation. Glad you enjoyed Gullfoss.

[@weepingscorpion8739]

There is a word used in northern England to mean waterfall or cascade and it was borrowed from Old Norse, and that word is force. So if you want to use that word (but yeah, I know it's pretty obscure for the majority of English speakers), you could translate the name of the waterfall as Goldforce. This is one place in Iceland I really want to see. Þingvellir being another.