May 28, 2012 · Year after year, she championed for the falls to be put into conservation, and used her own savings to hire a lawyer to represent her. That lawyer went on to become the first President of Iceland. ... 5 Responses to Sigridur Tomasdottir, Steward of the Land by Linda Harris Sittig. rich fox says: May 28, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Before Sigridur died a new law forbade foreign nationals from purchasing a state-owned waterfall. Gullfoss became a national park in 1979. Sigradur’s memorial, by sculptor Rikhardur Jonsson, sits by the waterfall and is visited each year by thousands of tourists.
Dec 31, 2017 · Artwork by Lola, age 10 Words by Lola, age 10 Sigridur Tomasdottir Born: 1874 Died: 1957 (aged 82-83) Known for: being a legendary environmentalist! SigrĂĂ°ur TĂłmasdĂłttir was an Icelandic environmentalist who saved the Gullfoss Falls. SigrĂĂ°ur was born in 1873 in Brattholt, near to Gullfoss Falls. She grew up on her family’s farm, and she and her sisters would act as …
At the turn of the 19th century, Sigridur’s father Tomas was approached by foreign investors wanting to dam the waterfalls for hydroelectrical production. They offered money but he famously said, “I do not sell my friends.”. But soon financiers indirectly rented Gullfoss. Sigridur fought to protect it.
Sigradur’s memorial, by sculptor Rikhardur Jonsson, sits by the waterfall and is visited each year by thousands of tourists. In our current struggle to protect ecologically and culturally important places it helps to remember actions of individuals such as Sigridur so we can be encouraged, brave, outspoken and innovative.
But soon financiers indirectly rented Gullfoss. Sigridur fought to protect it. She often walked or rode on horseback 120km to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, to urge Iceland’s rich and powerful business men and political leaders to let the waterfall be. Sigridur threatened to throw herself over the waterfalls if they were to be dammed.
But Icelanders are also a nation of leaders and survivors with countless stories of strong women in the country’s Sagas, folk tales and political office. VigdĂs FinnbogadĂłttir was Iceland’s (and Europe’s) first female president from 1980-1996. Sigridur lived on a sheep farm in Brattholt in southwest Iceland (1874-1957).
Sigridur advocated to make the waterfall a permanent conservation site, using her own money to hire a lawyer (he later became Iceland’s first President.)
Sigridur died in 1957 and was buried in the Haukadalur cemetery. She will always be remembered as the savior of Gullfoss. The sculptor Rikhardur Jonsson made her memorial, which is standing by the waterfalls.
Gullfoss-Geysir (The Golden Circle) - In One or Two Days.
The sisters at the farm were very fond of the waterfalls and acted as guides for the visitors. The sisters laid the first path to Gullfoss. Sigridur did not receive any official education, but was well read and artistic, a good illustrator and a skilled embroiderer.