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  • Momo@icelandphotos.co.uk
    Jul 8, 2026, 8:59 AM

    Under Ice

    Gullfoss is a popular waterfall, usually very busy with tourists arriving by the busful.

    In March, following a heavy snowstorm, we were almost the only ones there. The path down to the lower viewpoint was closed but some people had still risked it, evidenced by the footprints.

    Both wearing warm clothes, carrying spiked hiking poles, and fitted with crampons, we made our careful way along the upper platform. The view was simply astonishing.

    #WaterfallWednesday #Iceland #Photography

    Four colour photos of parts of a frozen waterfall under a snow-laden sky. In the upper left of this shot a wide blue river is making its way towards the viewpoint. Near the centre right it drops over a clutter of eroded boulders and steps, many of which are covered in snow and ice. The canyon wall next to this upper falls is caked with ice. The water course then turns ninety degrees to another drop into a deep canyon, just in front of the viewer. The foreground is a snow field with a large cornice overhanging the canyon, although this isn't obvious from this angle. A line of fencing is running down to a natural rock platform next to the top falls. Compacted ice shows where people have walked down.
    The second colour photo is of the icicles and cakes of ice at the point on the canyon wall next to the top falls. The ice is quite turquoise due to the fact that it's constantly wet. Snow has settled on the upper surfaces of the icicles. Some black rock is showing through in a few places, but mostly the ice is dominant. Running water can be seen at the top left.
    A view from height of the cascade dropping into the gorge. The canyon walls are mostly obscured by ice and snow but dark rock can be seen beneath. The blue water is dropping over a crest which is diagonal to the viewer, a clump of snowy ice is in the centre, splitting the flow. The falling water is white with foam. Opposite the drop, the outline of a cornice is visible, almost completely covered in snow. The foreground is more snowfield with some bare scrub vegetation.
    A close-up of the crest of the drop into the canyon. The swirling blue water is white with foam as it passes the natural rock platform which is closed to visitors. Zooming in on the right to 100% of the photo shows footprints all around the edge where visitors have ignored the safety warnings. Icicles and clumps of heavy turquoise ice have formed along the edge of the platform and the snow shows distinct layers.
    💬 7🔄 48⭐ 1

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