National Parks in Iceland

National Parks In Iceland

Iceland,  popularly referred to as the land of ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ is recognized for its vast array of natural splendour; geysers, mountains, hot springs, glaciers, waterfalls, etc.  These wonders of nature make available numerous opportunities for lots of outdoor activities. No doubt, outdoor lovers will have a thrilling experience in this beautifully crafted country.   However, if you are not a lover of the outdoors, Iceland will naturally initiate you as you will be awestruck by her raw and breathtaking scenery.

Presently, Iceland has three national parks; Þingvellir, Snæfellsjökull and Vatnajökull, which now incorporates Jökulsárgljúfur close to the river in the Northern area are the Jökulsá á Fjöllum, and right in the south is Skaftafell.  These national parks are a package of nature’s wonders and beauty, a habitation to many of Iceland’s major appeals. These parks are passionately safeguarded, supervised and run by the Environment Agency of Iceland in Umhverfisstofnun.  Journey with us as we take you into Mother Nature’s Haven: The National Parks in Iceland!

Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir National Park is the oldest in Iceland recognized for its geographic and historic importance.  It is situated a few kilometers from the city of Reykjavik.  This historic national park is one of the major points along the famous Golden Circle route.  Its uniqueness stands out in that, it has a UNESCO World Heritage site status and one of the most visited sites in Iceland.  It is significant for its uncommon volcanic and tectonic territory. The river Öxará negotiates the national park and converges as a waterfall at the Almannagjá, referred to as Öxarárfoss. On the northern coast of the lake, is the Silfra fissure, a well-liked scuba diving & snorkeling site. The lake at Þingvellir is popular for fishing and is surrounded by colossal brown mountains.  The historical significance of the Þingvellir National Park is related to the fact that it was an assembly point for the first parliament in Iceland; the Alþingi, and the birthplace of democracy. Interestingly, due to the combination of nature’s work creativity; the Þingvellir National Park, was chosen and used as a film shooting site for Game of Thrones, thereby drawing many lovers of the film on an expedition to the park.

Vatnajökull National Park

There are 3 national parks in Iceland of which Vatnajökull National Park is the largest. It surrounds the Vatnajökull glacier and regions; they comprise of the national parks; Skaftafell initially in the southwest and Jökulsárgljúfur in the north.

The distinctive features of Vatnajökull National Park are its array of incredible landscape hallmarks, brought into existence by the collaboration of volcanoes, glacial ice, geothermal ventures, mountains, and waterways. The enormous size of this park makes it the second biggest national park in Europe. You can also have expeditions during the day so you can have a feel of every beautiful and stimulating adventure the park has to provide as time flies when you are at the Vatnajökull National Park, with numerous thrilling features from glacier hikes to ice caves. The Vatnajökull National Park has four regions, each of which is regionally run; the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western regions.

• The Northern Region comprises of Jökulsárgljúfur canyon, Askja caldera, north-western Vatnajökull, and some of Jökulsá á Fjöllum river base campsites are situated in Ásbyrgi and Vesturdalur; there is also a visitor center. Here you can find also Dettifoss, Europe’s most powerful waterfall.
• The Southern Region spreads over the south-eastern part of Vatnajökull. Campsites are located in Skaftafell along with a visitor center. The Snæfellstofa is the current visitor center in Vatnajökull National Park. In this region you find Svartifoss waterfall, which is surrounded by dark lava columns. Other highlights are Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon with floating icebergs, the spectacular Diamond beach and the natural ice caves (winter activity).
• In the Eastern Region, are the vast spread of Snæfellsöræfi, north-eastern Vatnajökull, and the Kverkfjöll mountains & hot springs.  A visitor center is also situated in Skriðuklaustur.
• The Western Region is an extensive part of the exterior of the glacier including the widespread of the south-western part of Vatnajökull and the Langisjór along with the Lakagígar craters. In Kirkjubæjarklaustur, there is an information center collaboratively managed by the district and the national park.

Another very interesting feature of the park is the Vatnajökull glacier where the highest mountain in Iceland is situated; Mt. Hvannadalshnjúkur. Taking a walk through the passageway of the ice caves (winter only) or the glacier caves at Vatnajökull National Park is an awe-inspiring experience that will remain indelible in your memory for a long while.

Snæfellsjökull National Park

Snæfellsjökull National Park is a piece of the bigger Snæfellsjökull peninsula in the Western part of Iceland and the smallest national park in Iceland. The park is at the base of a volcano referred to as the gateway to the center of the earth. The Snæfellsnes peninsula is referred to “Iceland in miniature” because of the numerous Icelandic wonders centralized in one tiny section of the country.  Snæfellsjökull houses the Snæfellsjökull glacier popularly referred to as the ‘crown jewel’ and highly respected as the earth’s core of psychical potency; a (700,000) year-old composite volcano wrapped beautifully at the peak with ice topping.  The park was established to safeguard and exhibit the island’s manifold native vegetation, animal life, and exclusive panorama; it is the sole national park that extends to the ocean. The geological endowment of the park is an assortment of nature’s wonders from ancient Iceland.

The park is phenomenal with its legendary dunes and spectacular scenery obliterated beaches and ample stretch of lava caves. It is also a fantastic haven for those who dread long distances because all the sites are within reach.  The hillocks in the northern part of the glacier were formed during eruptions under the glacier; the Svalþúfa is probably the eastern part of a caldera which exploded in the sea, while Lóndrangar looks like a massive tower stretching to the ocean.  The Lóndrangar are exclusively created by basalt volcanic dykes bulging out from the ocean; they are the remnants of a caldera, gradually gnawed away at by the ocean. The Lóndrangar is made up of dissimilar twin columns situated on the south of Snæfellsnes foreland in West Iceland. The array of birds along the shorelines will intrigue bird lovers!

In your next visit to Iceland, make it part of your plan to visit the National Parks as they are one of Iceland’s excellent resources!