Geological wonder steeped in history
Interpretive Centre open:
1/6- 1/9 daily 09.00-19.00.
1/4 – 1/6 and 1/9-1/11
and at weekends in winter
09.00-17.00
Admission free
1/6-1/9: guided tours in English at 10.00 and 15.00 Monday to Friday, from Þingvellir Church
50 km from Reykjavík
Homepage
www.thingvellir.is
    
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The history of Iceland and of the Icelandic nation coincide at Þingvellir, where the Alþingi (national assembly) met each year from 930 until 1798.
Many crucial events in Icelandic history took place at Þingvellir, such as the adoption of Christianity around 1000 AD and the foundation of the modern Republic in 1944. Hence Þingvellir has a special place in the Icelandic consciousness. Þingvellir is also remarkable for its geology and the ecology of its lake. Þingvellir lies on the junction of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, whose divergence has formed the great rift valley of Þingvellir with its many crevasses and gorges. Þingvellir is Iceland’s oldest national park, founded in 1930. The Park offers a variety of footpaths, bridle paths and campsites. The Interpretive Centre at Hakið, which offers multimedia presentations on the history and nature of the region, is an excellent starting point for a walk through the ancient parliamentary site. In 2004 Þingvellir was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, which includes about 800 important cultural and natural heritage sites around the world.
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