MAIN Travel Tourist Attractions Iceland Þingvellir National Park (Thingviller)

Rift gully at the end of the Eurasian plate in Þingvellir National Park. The right side is where Europe ends. The left side is an area between continental plates. Langjökull glacier provides a stunning backdrop.

The name Þingvellir is translated as "Parliament Plains." The population of Iceland gathered here for two weeks each summer to pass laws and resolve disputes at the the Alþing general assembly - the world's oldest existing parliament.

Related Links: • Iceland Travel Guide • Planning Your Trip to Iceland • Reykjavik - Iceland's Capital City

Iceland straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and is splitting along the spreading center between the North American and Eurasian Plates. Don't worry, though. Magma fills the gap so the island will stay in one piece.

Walk along the edge of the North American continent in Iceland's Þingvellir National Park. The rocky volcanic ledge on the right is actually the end of the continent. This is one of only two places on the planet where the rift is able to be seen above ground.

"Fertile is water that runs under lava." Lake Þingvallavatn provides homes for 150 types of plants and 50 different invertebrate species as well as water fowl, foxes and mink...

The Golden Circle Tour bus crosses a rift which our guide explains is actually the end of the continent of Europe. That is our introduction to Þingvellir National Park by the river Öxará.

Þingvellir, which you may also see written as Thingvillir or Thingviller, is one of the four national parks in Iceland. What sets this one apart is the abundance of history and the forces of nature on display.

It is one of the two areas on earth where you can actually see the ends of continents moving away from each other and it is the birthplace of government by the people in Iceland.

No other place in Iceland means as much to the the history of the Icelandic people. The name Þingvellir is translated as "Parliament Plains." This centrally located area is where the Alþing general assembly was established around 930 AD, just 60 years after Iceland was settled.

The Alþing met in the shadow of the Lögberg or law rock, where the speaker addressed the gathered people. The theory is that the rock provided good acoustics so the crowd could hear what was being said. There were no microphones and public address systems in 930!

The parliament continued to convene there until 1798 when it was moved to Reykjavik. The Parliament House, at Austurvöllur in Reykjavík, was built during 1880 and 1881. This is the oldest parliament still functioning. The Icelandic nation is justifiably proud of the history of government by the people that this represents.

While the Alþing was an assembly to pass laws it was also a court and a general fairground. For two weeks every year all of Iceland would gather together to sort out disputes, trade goods and have a reunion. Typically, marriages would be brokered at these events as well. The people who came from the farthest northern areas would travel up to 17 days to be present. Ruins of the booths used during these annual meetings are still visible in the park.

It was here that Christianity was declared the national religion of Iceland in the year 1000 AD. This is where Iceland declared its independance from Denmark. Many major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at Þingvellir. The area is very special to all Icelanders.

Today Þingvellir is a national shrine protected by law so that the area will always be the property of the Icelandic people, under the protection of the Alþing. It has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site to acknowledge "heritage considered to be of outstanding value to humanity."

Our group walked across the Parliament Plains to the place where the law makers assembled. Long boardwalks straddle the field keeping the surrounding areas protected. This area is a scientific laboratory as well as an historic site.

As the group gathered by the the Lögberg, our guide explained the basics of plate tectonics which we were about to see first hand.

According to the theory, the surface of the Earth is broken into large plates. These plates are slowly being moved by the spinning of the earth. The edges of these plates, where they move against each other, are sites of intense geologic activity, such as the earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building that are so characteristic of Iceland.

Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The western part of the island is part of the Eurasian Plate. It is part of Europe. The eastern part of Iceland travels with the North American Plate.

The plates are moving apart at about the same speed as fingernails grow. As the continents drift apart cracks, called fissures, form and provide a path for magma, molten rock, to move to the surface. The section of Iceland between the two plates constantly fills with magma creating new land.

The opportunity to study the movement of the earth's land masses and the vegetation and other living things that settle in the newly formed land is a researcher's dream.

For those who are less interested in research, the area provides an awe inspiring view of the edge of a continent. You walk along a rocky lava ledge that is the end of North America as you make your way back to the bus!

After walking to North America, the group took the opportunity to visit a scenic overlook that features Lake Þingvallavatn. Lake Þingvallavatn is the largest natural lake in Iceland. The deepest part of the lake is below sea level.

The lake fills a rift valley that extends south from the Langjökull glacier to the mountains and extinct volcano of Hengill. The eastern waters touch shores of rough lava where only the hardiest, primitive vegetation grows, but opposite on the Western shore you'll findmagnificent rock formations and green farmlands.

It takes 20-30 years for water to run south into Lake Þingvallavatn from the glacier Langjökull. Rain fall can take 2 to 4 months to trickle through the lava beds into the lake. The water that feeds the lake absorbs many minerals from the fresh lava that it travels through. This mineral rich water makes a good place for fish to live.

The fish found in the lake are brown trout, Arctic charr and the three-spine stickleback. Brown trout as big as 20 pounds have been reported, but they are seldom seen today. The spawning area for the biggest trout were destroyed by the building of a hydroelectric plant.

The Arctic charr and stickleback are more interesting to science than to fishermen. In the 10,000 years since the last ice age, the fish have been evolving. There are four varieties of charr and 2 varieties of stickleback. The fish are different sizes and have developed other distinct characteristics depending on where in the lake they live.

The scenery is spectacular. This is one of the few places in Iceland where many different types of trees are found, but the landscape remains stark. The lake waters are calm and crystal blue. Two islands sit in the middle of the lake but they seem very far away. A distant waterfall and a small set of white houses and a little church provide great photo ops.

The bus is waiting for us, but there is time for a quick stop in the visitors center for bathrooms and brochures. This is one of the few buildings in the park and the simple Scandinavian lines fit well in this land of natural wonders.

If you go to Thingvillir National Park on your own, make sure to take a walk along the Öxará and see the Öxaráfoss which runs over a fissure ofthe Mid-Atlantic Ridge....

Thingvillir National Park - Includes sections about Þingvellir on the World Heritage List; the history of the park and the Alþing general assembly; complete coverage of the natural wonders including excellent information on continental drift, the geology of the area, vegetation and evolving species in Lake Þingvallavatn. Find out more on recreational facilities at the park which include fishing, hiking and swimming.

Þingvellir - Thingvellir in Iceland - This site has an interesting and fact filled article about the National Park and it's significance to the people of Iceland and to the world. Photos highlight the text.

Þingvellir : Things To Do Reviews - A good selection of photos (146) and text descriptions of sites to visit in and near the park (73) from people who have visited the area...provided by Virtual Tourist. Nice.

Þingvellir National Park - UNESCO World Heritage Centre - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added the park to its list of honored sites in 2004. "Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration." This page explains why Thingvillir National Park fits this description.

Þingvellir Wikipedia - An overall description of the Þingvellir National Park in Iceland with history, pictures and links to other resources.

Bird Forum Review Thingvellir National Park Iceland - If you are looking for a good listing of the birds to be found in this area...this is it.