THE BIRTHPLACE OF A NATION
Situated on the northern shore of lake Þingvallavatn, Þingvellir is the national shrine of Iceland. It is, for one, a key location in Icelandic history as the oldest existing parliament in the world first assembled there in 930 AD. Þingvellir has for this reason been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Besides being a location of historical significance, Þingvellir is also protected as a national park due to its unique geology and natural features. Almannagjá is a canyon formed between two tectonic plates, a visual representation of continental drift.
The waters in and around Þingvellir are a popular destination for fishing as well as scuba diving. The constant, regular influx of groundwater into Þingvallavatn, the biggest lake in Iceland, together with a very varied habitat, has created good conditions for fish and other life forms in the lake. As a result, both the brown trout and char in Þingvallavatn are amongst the largest to be found in the world.
Þingvellir is one of the three stops on the Golden Circle tour.
NATIONAL PARKS IN ICELAND
Þingvellir
Þingvellir is the national shrine of Iceland. It is a key location in Icelandic history as the oldest existing parliament in the world first assembled there in 930 AD. Þingvellir has for this reason been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Besides being a location of historical significance, Þingvellir is also protected as a national park due to its unique geology and natural features.
Vatnajökull
Vatnajökull National Park, established in 2008, encompasses not only all of Vatnajökull glacier but also extensive surrounding areas, including Skaftafell in the southwest, and Jökulsárgljúfur in the north. The park covers 13% of Iceland, making it one of the largest national parks in Europe.