The Golden Circle in Iceland

Þingvellir National Park

On top of being one of the main attractions in the Golden Circle, Þingvellir National Park is one of the most significant historical, cultural, and geological sites in Iceland. It is either the first or last stop location, just about 45 minutes from Reykjavik. Though the national park was established in 1930, the place dates back to 930 AD when the first parliament (Alþingi) was founded.

Alþingi was the world’s first democratically elected parliament that remains functional. It was not until 1798AD that the parliament moved to Reykjavik though the function remained the same. Þingvellir National Park boasts the title of the first national park in Iceland and the first one in Iceland in the UNESCO World Heritage Site List.

The park is also situated directly between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. As a result, it is the best place to witness the Mid Atlantic Ridge on land. Here are some of the incredible ways to explore Þingvellir.

Visit the BirthPlace of Icelandic Law and the Þingvellir Church

The name Þingvellir means “Parliamentary Plains.” Although the Icelandic parliament is in the capital city today, it is still possible to visit the sites where laws were made at Þingvellir. This place is where Alþingi would convene to decide on legislation. The highlight of the old parliament is the Law Rock, where the law speaker would recite the existing laws or make a ruling. It is marked with the Icelandic flag.

The Þingvellir church (Þingvallakirkja) is one of Iceland’s first church sites. The original church was consecrated back in the 11th century, but the current building dates from 1859. Inside the church, you will see several bells from earlier churches, a 17th-century wooden pulpit, and a painted altarpiece from 1834.

Diving and Snorkeling in the Silfra Fissure

Silfra is one of the ten best diving sites in the world! On top of the clear water, you will have a rare opportunity to snorkel between continental plates. Silfra is located in the Þingvallavatn Lake in Þ ingvellir Park. It was formed by the divergent tectonic drift of Eurasian and North American plates. Snorkeling at Silfra is possible for anyone who can swim above the age of 16 years. Diving, however, requires qualified scuba divers.

Hiking Þingvellir Unique Trails

Many hiking trails extend all over the park. One of the most popular is the Öxarárfoss waterfall trail, which will allow you to walk through the canyon between two continental plates. Almannagjá gorge hike takes you through the Games of Thrones scenery and offers incredible views of Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest natural lake. Here, you can also see where the earth is tearing apart.

The Geysir Hot Springs

About an hour’s drive from Þingvellir National Park brings you to the second stop of the Golden Circle tour, Geysir Geothermal Area. This fascinating site is situated within the Haukadalur Valley and is famed for geothermal hot springs. Most of the springs are lined up along a strip of land (100m) running from south to southwest in the same direction as the lines of the tectonic plates.

It is believed the Geysir came into existence around the end of the 13th century when a series of strong earthquakes and the devastating eruption of Hekla hit Haukadalur. The Great Geyser spouted regularly, about every three hours or so, at least up to the 19th century. After that the spouts from the Great Geyser came at longer intervals until it stopped in 1916. The Great Geysir has been dormant since 1916 when it ceased to spout suddenly, the Geyser did sprout once in 1935 but quickly went back to sleep. No one knows if the geyser will stay dormant forever or if it might start up again. Even though the Great Geyser is inactive, the geothermal area around is very much active. Strokkur (The Churn), the Great Geysers’ neighbor, erupts every 6-10 minutes or so, throwing water up 15-20 meters in the air. Watching Strokkur (The Churn) erupting is a magnificent sight that you should not miss. It is the main attraction in the area.

To the west of Geysir, you will find Blesi Hot Spring that used to spout water one meter high but is nowadays dormant. As you stroll around the valley, you will witness many small geysers, bubbling mud pots, fumaroles, and hills. Walking around the Geyser Geothermal area is breathtaking, and to crown it all, you will have an opportunity to shop at the vast boutique shops with Icelandic goods. Also, be sure to enjoy traditional Icelandic food from the restaurants in the area.

About two kilometers (one mile) from Geysir is a preserved natural pool called Kúalaug. 3-5 people can go in the pool at a time, however care should be taken if you plan on going in. The area around the pool is very delicate. The water is slightly muddy as the pool is built on soil and at the bottom of the pool there is algae, making the bottom slippery. The temperature of the pool is 39-43°C (103-109°F).

Did you know that the English word geyser is derived from the Icelandic word geysir?

The Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss waterfall is one of Iceland’s most spectacular and beloved waterfalls, just 10 minutes from the geyser. The name Gullfoss translates as “Golden Falls,” which is due to the golden color of the water on a sunny day. The waterfall is located in the canyon of the glacial river Hvítá, which originates from Langjökull Glacier. It is one of the natural wonders in Iceland where you view the falls from above as opposed to other waterfalls.

On a sunny day, the beautiful sight of the waterfall is more magnificent due to the rainbows that arise from its spray. The waterfall cascades down in two stages (a total of 32 meters) before disappearing into the crevice. As you approach the falls, the crevice is invisible, and you may think the mighty river has vanished to the ground.

Summer is the best season to visit Gullfoss, though it is also spectacular in winter. Therefore, it is advisable to wear warm clothes during your visit in winter. In summer, the volume of water that flows down the waterfall is about 140 cubic meters, while in winter, the number drops to 109 cubic meters.

Kerið Volcano Crater

Kerið is a volcanic crater lake in the Grímsnes area of Southern Iceland along the Golden Circle. It is approximately 40 minutes drive from Þingvellir. Kerið crater is also part of the western volcanic zone of Iceland. The volcano crater is about 3000 years old and has distinctive red volcanic slopes that are 170 meters wide, 55 meters deep, and a circumference of 270 meters.

It is believed that the volcanic crater was originally a cone-shaped volcano, which upon depletion of the magma reserve, the cone collapsed into the void left, forming the bottom of the lake. The crater was later filled with water, forming the present Kerið Crater Lake. The water in the volcanic crater has a turquoise blue color due to the minerals from the surrounding soil.

There is an easy hiking trail around the volcanic crater, so you can walk around as you marvel at the spectacular view. During winter, the lake freezes over and becomes a giant ice rink for adventurous tourists.