It is a miracle nobody has been seriously injured or killed in an accident at Gullfoss waterfall, according to the Chief of Police in South Iceland. Visitors at Gullfoss, one of the stops on the popular Golden Circle tour, stubbornly ignore warning signs and instructions to stay on the paths, venturing far too close to the edge of the cliffs of the canyon.
A ticking time bomb
It's remarkable how few accidents we have seen at these popular stops. Its as if people insist on taking all their photographs in these moments where you are literally standing at the threshold between life and death, Sveinn Kristján Rúnarsson, the chief of Police in South Iceland told the local newspaper Fréttablaðið. He pointed out that people only needed to take one wrong step, or slip, and they could fall into the deep canyon. It is highly unlikely anyone could survive the fall into the river below.
Guides have pointed out that many popular destinations in South Iceland are ticking time bombs due to the reckless actions of visitors who are willing to risk their life for a single Instagram photo. Signs warning people of the dangers do not seem to suffice.
Read more: Video: Visitors toying with death at Reynisfjara, Gullfoss, ignore fences and warning signs
Bláskógabyggð, the local municipality, which is responsible for the visitor area, viewing deck, walking paths and parking lots by Gullfoss waterfall, has in recent years tried to make the area safer for visitors. But, there are limits to what can be done, the mayor of Bláskógabyggð told Fréttablaðið. Signs instructing people to stay on the paths and warning them of the danger of venturing too close to the cliffs, as well as low fences and ropes which are designed to keep visitors safe, do not seem to be enough:
How far should you go? Because we also don't want to ruin the experience of visitors, for example by putting up tall fences to keep people out. In the end we must rely on people's common sense.
In addition to putting themselves at risk travelers who leave the marked path to get closer to the cliffs, are also spoiling the experience of other visitors, both by trampling down the vegetation and by standing in the way of the view of others. Please, stay on the path and take those warning signs seriously: They are put up for a reason!
Read more: Photos: People still toying with with death at Reynisfjara beach
It is a miracle nobody has been seriously injured or killed in an accident at Gullfoss waterfall, according to the Chief of Police in South Iceland. Visitors at Gullfoss, one of the stops on the popular Golden Circle tour, stubbornly ignore warning signs and instructions to stay on the paths, venturing far too close to the edge of the cliffs of the canyon.
A ticking time bomb
It's remarkable how few accidents we have seen at these popular stops. Its as if people insist on taking all their photographs in these moments where you are literally standing at the threshold between life and death, Sveinn Kristján Rúnarsson, the chief of Police in South Iceland told the local newspaper Fréttablaðið. He pointed out that people only needed to take one wrong step, or slip, and they could fall into the deep canyon. It is highly unlikely anyone could survive the fall into the river below.
Guides have pointed out that many popular destinations in South Iceland are ticking time bombs due to the reckless actions of visitors who are willing to risk their life for a single Instagram photo. Signs warning people of the dangers do not seem to suffice.
Read more: Video: Visitors toying with death at Reynisfjara, Gullfoss, ignore fences and warning signs
Bláskógabyggð, the local municipality, which is responsible for the visitor area, viewing deck, walking paths and parking lots by Gullfoss waterfall, has in recent years tried to make the area safer for visitors. But, there are limits to what can be done, the mayor of Bláskógabyggð told Fréttablaðið. Signs instructing people to stay on the paths and warning them of the danger of venturing too close to the cliffs, as well as low fences and ropes which are designed to keep visitors safe, do not seem to be enough:
How far should you go? Because we also don't want to ruin the experience of visitors, for example by putting up tall fences to keep people out. In the end we must rely on people's common sense.
In addition to putting themselves at risk travelers who leave the marked path to get closer to the cliffs, are also spoiling the experience of other visitors, both by trampling down the vegetation and by standing in the way of the view of others. Please, stay on the path and take those warning signs seriously: They are put up for a reason!
Read more: Photos: People still toying with with death at Reynisfjara beach
