アイスランドの天然記念物・トップ20

Þingvellir (or Thingvellir) National Park in Iceland is a unique geological location. It is the place where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates move apart. This separation is very clearly visible in the park, making it one of the few places in the world where you can see this phenomenon so clearly. The park is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the plates here are drifting apart at a rate of about 2 to 2.5 centimeters per year. This results in spectacular geological features such as deep gorges filled with very cold and clear water, fissures, cracks, waterfalls, subsidence and fault surfaces.

The bathing area is beautifully situated between two plank banks. Here you can find a suitable place to bathe. The higher the warmer. Do you think it's too hot? You have a cold inflow via a second watercourse. This way you can play with the temperature.

Very nice place with lots of parking spaces and entrances. The P2 parking lot is generally very full, as most people intuitively use it due to its proximity to the waterfall. All the places you can visit there are therefore very well distributed. There are also good quality toilets there. Many tour operators offer day trips in small group buses.

Snorrabud is an important historical site, located in Þingvellir National Park. It is the founding location of Iceland as it was the site of the country's first parliament. The views from here are absolutely stunning. You can even go diving here if you're brave enough to brave the icy waters, where you can see the tectonic plates from a completely different perspective.

Located in the Þingvellir National Park, Flosagjá is an impressive gorge that is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This gorge, which contains crystal clear water that maintains a constant temperature of 3-4°C all year round, is a remarkable natural wonder. Flosagjá is about 730 meters long and reaches a depth of about 25 meters. It is named after Flosi Þórðarson, an important character in the Brennu-Njáls saga, who is said to have jumped the gorge to escape his enemies.

'Peningagjá' is a term from Icelandic and can be split into two parts: 'peninga' and 'gjá'. 'Peninga' means 'coin' and 'gjá' means 'crack' or 'gorge'. So, 'Peningagjá' can be translated as 'Cracked Coin'. This name comes from the tradition where visitors throw coins into the clear waters of the crevice in the hope of luck and fortune. It is important to note that authorities have now decided to stop this practice to preserve nature.

We then walk down a wide path to the Almannagjá (All People's Gorge), which is not only geologically interesting as one of the largest faults in this region, but also has great historical significance as the former meeting place of the Icelandic Parliament. The legal texts used to be read out on a wide path along the gorge, along the Lögberg crowned with a flagpole.

Here you will find the information board regarding “Sprunga opnest”. This is an Icelandic expression that can be literally translated as “a crack opens”. As @Sasha Taylor describes. You will also find on the sign that cars drove through the Almannagjá until November 1, 1967. Only then was the ravine closed to wagons. Previously, the road was one of the main public roads through Þingvellir Park.