Thingvellir


Iceland is famous for its natural attractions . One of them is the Tingvellir National Park.

The name Tingvellir simultaneously means both the valley that is in the south-west of Iceland and the park.

History of the valley and park Tingvellir

The valley of the Tingvellir is of historical interest, since it was in this place in 903 that the Althingi Parliament was founded, which is considered to be the oldest in Europe. Here meetings were held, at which the most important decisions were taken that determined the fate of the country. So, in 1000, by a majority of votes, it was decided to adopt Christianity.

Valley Tingvellir is an interesting geological object. This is due to the fact that its location is the fault zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In it the plates of two continents diverge in opposite directions - North American and Eurasian.

The national park of Iceland Tingvellir was founded in 1928. It is considered the first in the country by the date of its occurrence. The park is famous for the fact that it houses the largest lake in Iceland, called Tingvallavatn, on the edge of which stands the cliff of Lochberg. In translation from Icelandic, its name means "rock of law". It is closely connected with the history of the Althingi Parliament, since it was from this place that the laws were read and speeches were made. In 1944, an important decision was made here, such as the proclamation of Iceland's independence from Denmark.

Climate in the park Tingvellir

The Tingvellir National Park is characterized by a subtropical marine climate. In the summer season, the average air temperature is + 10 ° C, and in winter the temperature on the thermometer drops to -1 ° C.

Thingvellir Park Attractions

In the Tingvellir National Park there are many natural attractions. Among the most famous and impressive of them you can list the following:

  1. Rift valley is the main attraction. This place is famous for the fact that there is a break in two plates. The soil in this region is characterized by the presence of numerous cracks, lavas and canyons. Each year the valley extends about 7 mm. In the park you can see the edges of tectonic plates. Also, special footpaths have been developed here, along which it is possible to make a transition from one continent to another.
  2. Lake Tingvallavatn. It is considered the largest in Iceland, its area is about 84 sq.km. It is a very ancient natural object, whose age is more than 12 thousand years. The lake is very deep, the largest mark of its depth is 114 m and is below sea level at 13 m. In the lake there are three islands and the lava canyon of Sylph, which is famous for the fact that the water temperature in it is kept at the level of 1-3 ° C for a year. In the gorge are various tunnels and caves. From the lake flows the largest river in Iceland Sog, which has three power plants. For lovers of diving, the lake will be a real find.
  3. Peningagya Canyon. In translation from the Icelandic language, this name means "money cleft." Two water bodies are considered as an attraction of the canyon. With one of them, which is called Drehkingarhilur, which in translation means "whirlpool for drowning," a legend is connected. According to her, women accused of sorcery were thrown into the pond. There is even a sign next to them, which contains their names.
  4. Volcanic system Hengidl. It consists of two volcanoes. One of them has the same name Hengidl, and the second one is called Hromandutindur. Hengidl is noted as the highest mountain in Iceland and has a height of more than 800 m. In the area of ​​this volcano there are power stations, the energy of which is enough for the whole of Southern Iceland. Near the volcanoes is the town of Hveragerdi, which is famous for its hot springs.

In the park there is a great variety of different plants, there are about 150 of them. Also, about 50 species of animals live here.

How to get to Tingvellir Park?

Tingvellir Park in Iceland is located in close proximity to the capital Reykjavik . The distance to it is 49 km. Therefore, travelers who set the goal to get to the park, can choose for themselves one of two options for the road. The first of them is to use the bus route, which originates in the center of the capital. But it should be borne in mind: buses run only in the summer. Another option is to get to Tingvellir Park by car. First you will need to follow the route number 1 through Mosfellsbaer. Then the path will lie along Route 36, which passes directly through Tinvellir. The total time taken to drive to the park is about one hour.