This week we visited Þingvellir National Park, one of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions. For tourists, the park is probably most notably famous for its geological significance. Its rift valley marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and the Eurasian tectonic plates. Additionally, it is the residing place of Þingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland. The continental drift is quite apparent in the large cracks and faults in the rock. Some of the cracks are full of crystal clear water and are a popular destination for scuba divers to explore the deep crevasses.
Þingvellir is historically significant as well. Iceland’s first parliament assembled there in 930 AD and it is said to be one of the oldest existing parliaments in the world. Each year Icelanders would travel to Þingvellir from all over the country to meet for a two-week assembly to set laws and settle disputes. This congregation continued until 1798. Although the main reason for the trek was to attend the assembly, the thousands of people who gathered there also sold and traded goods and services, shared news, and feasted together.
My favorite part was all the tears in the earth where you could visibly see the tectonic activity. The tears ranged in size and length. I especially loved the water-filled crevasses across the valley because they were amazingly clear and beautiful.
Hannah Arvold