Thingvellir National Park, Iceland aka Pingvellir

An area of geological and historical significance is how some of the tourist brochures describe this area…and they are correct. The unique geography of the place hits you first. Where else on earth can you say “this is what it looks like at the bottom of the ocean” (other than being on the bottom of the ocean, but really, how many of us will ever experience that.)

 

We learned that Iceland is an outcropping of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which is a seam that runs between two tectonic plates that run the length of the Atlantic Ocean. So here in Iceland you can be on both the North American tectonic plate and the Eurasian tectonic plate on the same day…you just have to cross the rift valley OR in some places you just have to place your feet on either side of a fissure.

Aside: It’s both interesting and scary to experience this. Just how fast does Continental drift move? (They told us…but I forget. However, it is fast enough to make one think about earthquakes and hot lava coming up through fissures!)

Aside no. 2: Thingvellir or Pingvellir? I have seen it spelled both ways. The Icelandic language does not have all the same letters (or sounds) as English, so it seems that sometimes the closest English sound is used and sometimes the letter that most closely resembles the English letter is used. (th = sound, p = visual)

 

Geological significance is easy to see (once you know what you are looking at.)

But historical significance? Well, that is where it really gets interesting for me. It turns out that this area is the home of the world’s oldest parliament.

Hint: Click on any photo to enlarge it.

 

Way back in 930 (yes, 930 AD,  that is correct…not a typo) the meeting of the chieftans from all over Iceland began the first parliament. For two weeks of the year there would be a meeting where concern would be aired, problems would be sorted out, and laws would be agreed upon.

This area has been recognized by UNESCO which lists Thingvellir National Park as a World Heritage UNESCO cultural site.

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