Thingvellir is Iceland’s first national park, established in 1928, 96 years ago. At that time, about 5,000 tourists visited Thingvellir each year. Today, 1.7 million people visit Thingvellir annually. The national park, now 228 square kilometers in size, is located at the northern end of Thingvallavatn lake and is unique. Here, the history of the nation is intertwined with remarkable nature. Thingvellir is one of just over 1,200 cultural and natural sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage list—sites that hold unique value for all of humanity. Thingvellir is considered an exceptional record of ancient Nordic parliamentary practices, as the Althing (Iceland’s national parliament) is the oldest parliament in the world, founded at Thingvellir in 930. The Althing last convened at Thingvellir in 1798, before it was moved to Reykjavík. The natural setting is also unique, as the rift valley at Thingvellir is part of an active volcanic and fissure zone that extends from Reykjanes to Langjökull, situated on tectonic plate boundaries, which shift by 2 cm per year. It’s always a pleasure to visit Thingvellir, only 50 km (30 mi) from Reykjavík and located in the national park, but it may never be more beautiful than in the lovely autumn weather, like when Icelandic Times visited Thingvellir.
Images & text: Páll Stefánsson
