Þingvellir, south Iceland
Þingvellir (Icelandic: Thing Fields), anglicized as Thingvellir or Pingvellir, is located in south west Iceland to the north east of the Reykjanes peninsula and Reykjavík.
Þingvellir is the national shrine of Iceland and is a site of significant historical, cultural and geological importance and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland.
Alþingi, anglicized as Althing, the Icelandic Parliament, was established at Þingvellir in 930 and remained there until 1798.
Þingvellir National Park or Thingvellir National Park was founded in 1930 to mark the 1000th anniversary of the Althing. It was later expanded to protect natural phenomena in the surrounding area and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
Þingvellir is notable for its unusual tectonic and volcanic environment in a rift valley. The continental drift between the north American and Eurasian tectonic plates can be clearly seen in the cracks or faults which traverse the region, the largest one, Almannagjá, being a veritable canyon. This also causes the often measurable earthquakes in the area.
Þingvellir is situated on the northern shore of Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake of Iceland. The river Öxará traverses the National Park and forms a waterfall called Öxarárfoss at Almannagjá. On the lake's northern shore the Silfra fissure is a popular diving and snorkelling tour location.
Þingvellir is popular with tourists and, together with the magnificent waterfall at Gulfoss and the geothermal features at Geysir, Þingvellir is part of a group of the most famous sights of Iceland known as the "Golden Circle".
Date: 7th June 2015
Location: view from the trail from the visitor centre at Þingvellir
Þingvellir is the national shrine of Iceland and is a site of significant historical, cultural and geological importance and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland.
Alþingi, anglicized as Althing, the Icelandic Parliament, was established at Þingvellir in 930 and remained there until 1798.
Þingvellir National Park or Thingvellir National Park was founded in 1930 to mark the 1000th anniversary of the Althing. It was later expanded to protect natural phenomena in the surrounding area and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
Þingvellir is notable for its unusual tectonic and volcanic environment in a rift valley. The continental drift between the north American and Eurasian tectonic plates can be clearly seen in the cracks or faults which traverse the region, the largest one, Almannagjá, being a veritable canyon. This also causes the often measurable earthquakes in the area.
Þingvellir is situated on the northern shore of Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake of Iceland. The river Öxará traverses the National Park and forms a waterfall called Öxarárfoss at Almannagjá. On the lake's northern shore the Silfra fissure is a popular diving and snorkelling tour location.
Þingvellir is popular with tourists and, together with the magnificent waterfall at Gulfoss and the geothermal features at Geysir, Þingvellir is part of a group of the most famous sights of Iceland known as the "Golden Circle".
Date: 7th June 2015
Location: view from the trail from the visitor centre at Þingvellir
|
Also in: South Iceland
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |