We may have said this before, but the weather here has been variable. Today was the bad side of variable. We awoke to some solid rain and biting wind. But our time is dwindling and rearranging days due to weather isn’t an option. So off we go with GoreTex and a positive attitude.
Thingvallavatn – the largest natural lake in Iceland
Thingvellir National Park is the only place in the world where the mid-Atlantic ridge is visible above sea level. The rift between the Euro-Asian and North American plates is pulling apart by about 2.5 cm every year. As they pull apart, the land is torn and many ravines are formed.
Although the rift is quite wide, this bridge is basically at the center of it, so we are standing in separate continents!
The Silfra fissure is a place where people can snorkel or scuba dive within the rift between the plates. The fissure is up to 200 feet deep in places and the water is amazingly clear.
Since the weather was so unfriendly today we decided to call it quits and go find lunch. Lindin is a restaurant on Laugarvatn lake, about 30 minutes away. Kris had tempted Dave with reindeer burgers. Turns out the burgers are amazing, and they had yummy seafood soup and local Icelandic Toasted Porter for Kris. At least we were able to salvage part of the day!
Our last day in Iceland we awoke to clear-ish skies and eventually full sun so we decided to go back to Thingvellir and try the views again. We bid a fond farewell to Moi and Katla (our host’s awesome dogs), threw their ball for them one more time and headed out.
The Almannagja Gorge in Thingvellir National Park marks the edge of the North American techtonic plate. Game of Thrones filmed the Gates of the Moon here as entry to Lysa Arryn’s Eyrie.
The trail leads out of the gorge past Logberg (Law Rock), a rock outcrop that was the location for the assembly of the Althingi parliament.
Drekkingarhylur (Drowning Pool) – Iceland’s reformation in the mid 16th C saw harsh penalties for moral offenses when the Danish crown believed that blood was the only way to cleanse a society’s deep sins. Women convicted of incest or other random fornications were drowned in this pool.
Oxararfoss waterfall on the Oxara River
Thingvellir is also the site of the first Icelandic democratic parliament first held in 930 AD. As society developed in South Iceland, the population decided that an assembly would help ease disputes and create a fair society. Thingvellir was chosen as the assembly site as the region was easily accessible for most of the populated areas.
Thingvallakirkja – there has been a church on this site since the early days of Icelandic settlement. In 1000 AD the nation decided to give up the Old Norse pagan belief system of Asatru in favour of Christianity.
With that it was time for a quick lunch in the car and race to the airport for our flight home (with a quick stop in Duty Free of course)
On the flight, we were treated to some stunning views of Greenland and the Canadian arctic.
Until next time, bless (goodbye) Iceland.
Have always enjoyed your travel pictures, brings back great memories for us. We loved Iceland, spent over two weeks there, circumnavigating the Island. Happy anniversary. Look forward to your next adventure. Walt and Linda