#thingviller

Most visitors to Iceland will, at some point, take the Golden Circle to the most popular tourist route in the country. Þingvellir ( read as Thingvitler ) National Park is one of the stops. It is one of the most visited sites in all of Iceland. Located just 45 minutes drive from Reykjavík and the first stop on the Golden Circle. It is a beautiful site with a wealth of things to do. No matter your interests, you are sure to find something here that fascinates you.

Þingvellir’s cultural and historical heritage are what draw many over to it, but it’s geological traits are quite as fascinating. Because of its history, Þingvellir became a National Park in 1930. In 2004, it was accepted as part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Iceland is divided by the Mid-Atlantic Rift. Some parts of it, are on the North American tectonic plate, while others, are on the Eurasian plate. Iceland is the only place in the world where this rift is above sea-level, and nowhere can you see the edges of both plates as clearly as in Þingvellir.

People come for more than just the history and geology. Many come for the opportunities to snorkel and dive. The most famous fissure and the only one it is permitted to snorkel or dive in is Silfra. The fissure was opened by the tectonic movement between the continental plates after a major earthquake in Iceland. Silfra is filled with glacial meltwater that has travelled underground for over 100 years through a lava field. It is the clearest natural fresh water on the planet. I seriously think it is a lot better than bottled water. The visibility underwater exceeds a hundred meters, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a world of magical blue light and witness amazingly beautiful underwater landscape. The water in Silfra is very cold but it never freezes. Drysuits are required for snorkeling or diving, although the occasional snorkeling operator will lead daring groups in wetsuits. One thing is for sure. I don't want to miss snorkeling the Silfra Fissure the next time I visit. It is the only place in the planet where you can dive between two continents.

I borrowed the photo below from Arctic Adventures just for you to see how clear the water is.

Another trait of Þingvellir that draws tourists is its use as a shooting location in HBO’s Game of Thrones series. 

I am standing in between two continents in my photo below. Separated by two tectonic plates, one side is North America and the other side is Europe. This is one of the reasons why Þingvellir National Park is a sought after tourist destination because of the significance of its history and geology.

The Thundering Gullfoss

A ride along the Golden Circle in the south of Iceland reveals the breathtaking Gullfoss Waterfall. In Icelandic, Gullfoss means “Golden Waterfall”. It is one of Iceland's signature waterfalls and it is no surprise to see why. Gullfoss is probably one of the first waterfalls you will visit in Iceland if you drive along the Golden Circle from Reyjavík.

There’s a very interesting story from our tour guide. In the early 20th century there was much speculation about harnessing this beautiful waterfall for electricity. Foreign investors, who rented Gullfoss from the owner wanted to build a hydroelectric power plant, which would have destroyed the waterfall forever. But the daughter of of the owner of the waterfall was fiercely against it. When all else had failed, she threatened to throw herself in the waterfall in protest. Fortunately it did not have to come to that. With the help of her lawyer, they managed to have the contract annulled. That’s how Gullfoss became the property of the people of Iceland. A memorial honoring Sigridur Tomasdottir, the daughter who fought to preserve Gullfoss sits by the waterfall and is visited each year by thousands of tourists.

Gullfoss is always busy and crowded with visitors. Because it is one of the three major attractions on the Golden Circle Route that includes Strokkur Geysir and Þingvellir National Park as a very doable day trip out of Reykjavík. Nonetheless, the waterfall’s popularity is well deserved. It is one of the more unique ones we’ve seen. To stand at Gullfoss and wallow in the beauty and the wonder of nature is an uplifting experience.

Click on links below to read more:

The Magical Seljalandsfoss

The Best Of Iceland

The Blue Lagoon