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A walk between the North American and Eurasian Tectonic Plates in Iceland. It's also the northern end of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This is part of the iconic rift valley on The Golden Circle. It's where Iceland's parliament (Althing) started meeting in 930. The light rain had broke just before I got there which was enough to keep the crowds down. Thingvellir (þhingvellir) National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. #Iceland #ThingvellirNationalPark
The island was governed as an independent commonwealth under the native parliament, the Althing, one of the world's oldest functioning legislative assemblies. Following a period of civil strife, Iceland acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century. The establishment of the Kalmar Union in 1397 united the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Iceland thus followed Norway's integration into that union, coming under Danish rule after Sweden seceded from the union in 1523. The Danish kingdom forcefully introduced Lutheranism to Iceland in 1550.
The island was governed as an independent commonwealth under the native parliament, the Althing, one of the world's oldest functioning legislative assemblies. Following a period of civil strife, Iceland acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century. The establishment of the Kalmar Union in 1397 united the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Iceland thus followed Norway's integration into that union, coming under Danish rule after Sweden seceded from the union in 1523. The Danish kingdom forcefully introduced Lutheranism to Iceland in 1550.
The Althing is the parliament of Iceland. I doubt that you will find many other parliaments in the world where you could lean your bike to a pole in front of it and leave.
Iceland in august.
In 930, the ruling chiefs established an assembly called the Alþingi (Althing). The parliament convened each summer at Þingvellir, where representative chieftains (Goðorðsmenn or Goðar) amended laws, settled disputes and appointed juries to judge lawsuits. Laws were not written down but were instead memorized by an elected Lawspeaker (lǫgsǫgumaðr). The Alþingi is sometimes said to be the world's oldest existing parliament. Importantly, there was no central executive power, and therefore laws were enforced only by the people. This gave rise to feuds, which provided the writers of the sagas with plenty of material.
Iceland enjoyed a mostly uninterrupted period of growth in its commonwealth years. Settlements from that era have been found in southwest Greenland and eastern Canada, and sagas such as Saga of Erik the Red and Greenland saga speak of the settlers' exploits.
Fascinating Iceland - Reykjavik
Hallgrímskirkja --
In the foreground the statue of Leif Eriksson (discoverer of America), which was donated by the United States in 1930 for the 1000th anniversary of the Althing Iceland.
Evangelical Lutheran parish church of the Icelandic State Church;
Construction began in 1945. The church tower was completed in 1974. The nave was not completed until 1986.
The concrete pillars connect with the Icelandic basalt columns, , the white color reminds of the glaciers of Iceland.
Evangelisch-lutherische Pfarrkirche der isländischen Staatskirche;
Baubeginn 1945. Der Kirchturm wurde 1974 fertiggestellt. Erst 1986 wurde das Kirchenschiff vollendet.
Die Betonpfeiler verbinden mit den isländischen Basaltsäulen, die weiße Farbe erinnert an die Gletscher Islands.
Þingvellir was the site of the Alþing, the annual parliament of Iceland from the year 930 until the last session held at Þingvellir in 1798. Since 1881, the parliament has been located within Alþingishúsið in Reykjavík.
Þingvellir is now a national park in the municipality of Bláskógabyggð in southwestern Iceland, about 40 km (25 miles) northeast of Iceland's capital, Reykjavík. Þingvellir is a site of historical, cultural, and geological significance, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. To its south lies Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.
Þingvellir National Park was founded in 1930, marking the 1000th anniversary of the Althing. The park was later expanded to protect the diverse and natural phenomena in the surrounding area, and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2004.
Þingvellir became a national park as a result of legislation passed in 1928 to protect the remains of the parliament site, thus creating the first national park in Iceland. The park was decreed "a protected national shrine for all Icelanders, the perpetual property of the Icelandic nation under the preservation of parliament, never to be sold or mortgaged.
According to the Book of Settlements (Landnámabók), the settlement of Iceland began in 874, when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson became the first permanent Norwegian settler on the island. Over the next centuries, people of Norse and Celtic origin settled in Iceland. Early on, district assemblies were formed, but as the population grew, there was a need for a general assembly. The descendants of Ingólfur who dominated the region of southwest Iceland had become the most powerful family in the country, and other chieftains felt a need for a general assembly to limit their power.
Grímur Geitskör was allotted the role of rallying support and finding a suitable location for the assembly. At about the same time, the owner of Bláskógar (the contemporary name for the Þingvellir region) was found guilty of murder. His land was declared public, and then obligated to be used for assembly proceedings, and the building of temporary dwellings, and the forest to be used for kindling and the grazing of horses. The Þingvellir area was chosen for this reason and for its accessibility to the most populous regions of the north, south and west. The longest journey a goði (chieftain) had to travel was 17 days, from the easternmost part of the country where mountains and glacial rivers proved bothersome obstacles.
The foundation of the Icelandic parliament is said to be the founding of the nation of Iceland, and the first parliamentary proceedings in the summer of 930 laid the ground for a common cultural heritage and national identity. Þingvellir played a central role in the history of the country, and its history runs almost parallel with the history of the Icelandic Commonwealth.
The island was governed as an independent commonwealth under the native parliament, the Althing, one of the world's oldest functioning legislative assemblies. Following a period of civil strife, Iceland acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century. The establishment of the Kalmar Union in 1397 united the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Iceland thus followed Norway's integration into that union, coming under Danish rule after Sweden seceded from the union in 1523. The Danish kingdom forcefully introduced Lutheranism to Iceland in 1550.
Þingvellir National Park, Iceland, 2017. A UNESCO world heritage site, Þingvellir is the home of the world's oldest parliament- the Althing, which still exists today. Part of the Golden Circle it is also where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet.
The recorded history of Iceland began with the settlement by Viking explorers and the people they enslaved from the east, particularly Norway and the British Isles, in the late ninth century. Iceland was still uninhabited long after the rest of Western Europe had been settled. Recorded settlement has conventionally been dated back to 874, although archaeological evidence indicates Gaelic monks from Ireland, known as papar according to sagas, had settled Iceland earlier.
The land was settled quickly, mainly by Norwegians who may have been fleeing conflict or seeking new land to farm. By 930, the chieftains had established a form of governance, the Althing, making it one of the world's oldest parliaments. Towards the end of the tenth century, Christianity came to Iceland through the influence of the Norwegian king Olaf Tryggvason. During this time, Iceland remained independent, a period known as the Old Commonwealth, and Icelandic historians began to document the nation's history in books referred to as sagas of Icelanders. In the early thirteenth century, the internal conflict known as the age of the Sturlungs weakened Iceland, which eventually became subjugated to Norway over the 13th century. wikipedia
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Þingvellir National Park with Öxará river and Althing, the national parliament of Iceland. It's one of that famous places "must to visit" in Golden Circle, Iceland.
Þingvellir is a site of historical, cultural, and geological importance and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. It lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
The Althing, the national parliament of Iceland, was established at Þingvellir in 930, and held its sessions there until 1798. Þingvellir National Park was founded in 1930 and became a World Heritage Site in 2004.
Þingvallakirkja is located where the Althing parliamentary general assembly met between 930 and 1798. The church itself dates back to 1859.
Goðafoss 20200803
Goðafoss means the waterfall of the gods and tracks its name back to the year 1000. It was the year the law-speaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði declared Christianity to be the official religion in Iceland. When the parliamentary representatives at the Althing couldn't find a solution to the question of whether Iceland should stay heathen or convert to Christianity, Þorgeir was given the task of making that decision. He crawled into his tent, buried himself beneath a stack of hides and three days emerged with his decision. The Icelanders would be Christian. It was, of course, socio-economically sensible. Þorgeir was a chieftain in the northeast region. Upon returning home after the momentous declaration (which, by the way, didn't meet one objection) he threw all his statues of the Norse gods into the waterfall. As Þorgeir had hitherto been a heathen priest, this was a highly symbolic gesture.
Source: Hit Iceland.
Scleroderma verrucosum is a basidiomycete fungus and a member of the genus Scleroderma, or "earth balls". First described scientifically in 1791, the species has a cosmopolitan distribution, and grows in the ground in nutrient-rich, sandy soils.
The fruit body is roughly spherical with a somewhat flattened top, and has a thick, stem-like base; it attains a diameter of 2–7 cm (3⁄4–2+3⁄4 in). Its color is ochre or dingy brown, and the surface is covered with scaly warts that eventually slough off to leave a relatively smooth surface. The thin flesh underneath the peridium stains pink to red when the fruit body is cut open. The peridium (outer skin) is thin and fragile when dry, and cracks irregularly to form a large opening. The internal spore-bearing tissue, the gleba, is initially white, but becomes light brown and powdery after the spores mature. The spores are spherical, and covered with minute warts or spines, and measure about 12 μm in diameter.
The fruit bodies are edible when the gleba is still firm and white. On the other hand, S. verrucosum appears to cause poisoning symptoms similar to Scleroderma citrinum at least in some people, so it cannot be recommended for consumption.
Located in North Iceland between Akureyri and Lake Myvatn, this picturesque Godafoss or ‘Waterfall of the Gods’ is one of the most impressive in the country. Ice-blue glacial water flows over an elegant semi-circular arc. It creates blue-green swirling patterns in the water below among the surrounding lava.
According to the myth, in the year 1,000 Law-speaker of the Althing, Chieftain Thorgeir Thorkelsson, returned from Thingvellir with the decision that the nation of Iceland would convert to Christianity. He ceremoniously disposed of Norse pagan idols into the falls.
Goðafoss 20210719
Goðafoss is situated in the North of Iceland, near Myvatn in the region Norðurland, Suður-Þingeyjarsýsla.
According to the sagas (Íslendingabók) Goðafoss got its name following an event in the year 999 or 1000. The Lawspeaker of the Althing at Thingvellir (Icelandic Parliament) was somebody named Thorgeir Ljósvetningagoði, a gentleman farmer of the Ljósavatn farm, 2 kilometers from the waterfall. The Vikings believed traditionally in many pagan gods. Led by Thorgeir the Althing decided to make the conversion to the Christian faith. When Thorgeir came back (in the year of the conversion) from Thingvellir, he decided to throw all the wooden statues of pagan gods into the waterfall, and thus take away from the symbolic belief in pagan gods.
In the year 2000, a church was built on the farm Ljosavatn commemorating the 1000th anniversary of Christianity in Iceland and named after Thorgeir. The church is open to visitors during the summer.
Source European Waterfalls.
Auto exposure bracketing of 3 pictures
Belichtungsreihe aus 3 Bildern
Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran Church in Reykjavík, Iceland. At 74.5 metres (244 ft) high, it is the largest church in Iceland and among the tallest structures in the country. The church is named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614–1674), author of the Passion Hymns.
State Architect Guðjón Samúelsson's design of the church was commissioned in 1937. He is said to have designed it to resemble the trap rocks, mountains and glaciers of Iceland's landscape.
The statue of explorer Leif Erikson (c.970 – c.1020) by Alexander Stirling Calder in front of the church predates its construction. It was a gift from the United States in honor of the 1930 Althing Millennial Festival, commemorating the 1000th anniversary of Iceland's parliament at Þingvellir in 930 AD.
Die Hallgrímskirkja ist eine evangelisch-lutherische Pfarrkirche der Isländischen Staatskirche in der Hauptstadt Reykjavík, das größte Kirchengebäude Islands und das zweithöchste Gebäude des Landes.
Entworfen wurde das Gebäude von dem Staats-Architekten Guðjón Samúelsson (1887–1950). Seinen Entwurf legte er 1937 vor. Im äußeren Erscheinungsbild dominiert der expressionistische Stil. Auffallend ist die Ähnlichkeit der Betonpfeiler, die sich in großer Zahl um den Turm aneinanderreihen, mit Basaltsäulen, einem gängigen Motiv der isländischen Landschaft. Die weiße Farbe soll an die Gletscher erinnern.
Vor der Kirche und in ihrer Mittelachse befindet sich eine Statue von Leif Eriksson, die 1930 zur 1000-Jahr-Feier des Althing Island von den Vereinigten Staaten geschenkt und vom amerikanischen Bildhauer Alexander Stirling Calder geschaffen wurde.
Visiting Iceland was a longtime dream that came true just last week....such incredible beauty! “Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is a historic site and national park in Iceland, east of Reykjavík. It's known for the Alþing (Althing), the site of Iceland's parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. On the site are the Þingvellir Church and the ruins of old stone shelters. The park sits in a rift valley caused by the separation of 2 tectonic plates, with rocky cliffs and fissures like the huge Almannagjá fault.”
Thingvellir se situe dans le sud-ouest de l'Islande, près de la péninsule de Reykjanes, juste à côté de Geysir. C'est un haut lieu de l'histoire islandaise : un des plus vieux parlements du monde (l'Althing) y fut fondé dès 930 et la République d'Islande y fut déclarée le 17 juin 1944. Le site est inscrit sur la liste du patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco depuis 2004.
le lieu le plus emblématique de l’histoire islandaise est le Parc National de Thingvellir,ou en 930 qu'a été créé l’Alþingi, le premier parlement au monde
C'est là aussi là où l’Islande adopta le christianisme en l’an 1000 et où est née la République d’Islande le 17 juin 1944.
L'emplacement des ruines du Parlement n'est plus que marqué par un drapeau . Le Parlement (l’Althing) a été transféré à Reyhjavik en 1845
une vue aérienne visible intéressante
Thingvellir is located in the southwest of Iceland, near the Reykjanes peninsula, right next to Geysir. It is a high place of Icelandic history: one of the oldest parliaments in the world (the Althing) was founded there in 930 and the Republic of Iceland was declared there on June 17, 1944. The site is inscribed on the list UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004.
the most emblematic place in Icelandic history is Thingvellir National Park, where in 930 the Alþingi, the first parliament in the world, was created
This is also where Iceland adopted Christianity in the year 1000 and where the Republic of Iceland was born on June 17, 1944.
The site of the ruins of the Parliament is now only marked by a flag. The Parliament (the Althing) was transferred to Reyhjavik in 1845
an interesting visible aerial view
Thingvellir se encuentra en el suroeste de Islandia, cerca de la península de Reykjanes, justo al lado de Geysir. Es un lugar destacado de la historia de Islandia: uno de los parlamentos más antiguos del mundo (el Althing) se fundó allí en 930 y la República de Islandia fue declarada allí el 17 de junio de 1944. El sitio está inscrito en la lista del Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO. Sitio desde 2004.
El lugar más emblemático de la historia de Islandia es el Parque Nacional Thingvellir, donde en 930 se creó el Alþingi, el primer parlamento del mundo.
Aquí también es donde Islandia adoptó el cristianismo en el año 1000 y donde nació la República de Islandia el 17 de junio de 1944.
El sitio de las ruinas del Parlamento ahora solo está marcado por una bandera. El Parlamento (el Althing) fue transferido a Reyhjavik en 1845..
una interesante vista aérea visible
Þingvellir NP, Rift Valley. To the left from the ridge is the North American tectonic plate and to the right the Eurasian plate.
The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Þingvellir is associated with the Althing, the national parliament of Iceland, which was established at the site in 930 AD. Sessions were held at the location until 1798.
Þingvellir National Park (þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum) was founded in 1930, marking the 1000th anniversary of the Althing. The park was later expanded to protect the diverse and natural phenomena in the surrounding area, and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2004. (Wikipedia)
Located in North Iceland between Akureyri and Lake Myvatn, this picturesque Godafoss or ‘Waterfall of the Gods’ is one of the most impressive in the country. Ice-blue glacial water flows over an elegant semi-circular arc. It creates blue-green swirling patterns in the water below among the surrounding lava.
According to the myth, in the year 1,000 Law-speaker of the Althing, Chieftain Thorgeir Thorkelsson, returned from Thingvellir with the decision that the nation of Iceland would convert to Christianity. He ceremoniously disposed of Norse pagan idols into the falls.
Standing on the Eurasia tectonic plate looking out over the rift valley caused by the separation of 2 tectonic plates. It is a historic site and national park east of Reykjavík. It's known for the Alþing (Althing), the site of Iceland's parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries.
Thingvellir has strong roots in the minds of the Icelandic nation as well as in the history of the country itself. Shortly after the year 900, inhabitants started to think about founding a general assembly for the new settlers of Iceland. The foundation of the Icelandic parliament is said to be the founding of the nation of Iceland. The first parliamentary proceedings in the summer of 930 laid ground for a common cultural heritage and national identity.
Thanks for the fave's and comments. You can see the rest of the pics of our trip to Iceland clicking here.
Hallgrímskirkja is a Lutheran (Church of Iceland) parish church in Reykjavík, Iceland. At 74.5 metres (244 ft) tall, it is the largest church in Iceland and among the tallest structures in the country. Known for its distinctively curved spire and side wings, it has been described as having become an important symbol for Iceland's national identity since its completion in 1986. The church is named after the Icelandic poet and cleric Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614–1674), author of the Passion Hymns.
Architecturally, Hallgrímskirkja consists of three parts: The tower with the distinctly curved side wings which house service facilities, a nave in more traditional architecture, and a sanctuary at the other end of the nave, whose cylindrical shape has been described as evoking Viking war helmets.
It took 41 years to build the church: construction started in 1945 and ended in 1986, but the landmark tower was completed long before the whole church was finished. The crypt beneath the choir was consecrated in 1948, the steeple and wings were completed in 1974, and the nave was consecrated in 1986. At the time of construction, the building was criticized as too old-fashioned and as a blend of different architectural styles. The church was originally intended to be less tall, but the leaders of the Church of Iceland wanted a large spire so as to outshine Landakotskirkja (Landakot's Church), which was the cathedral of the Catholic Church in Iceland.
The statue of explorer Leif Erikson (c.970 – c.1020) by Alexander Stirling Calder in front of the church predates its construction. It was a gift from the United States in honor of the 1930 Althing Millennial Festival, commemorating the 1000th anniversary of the convening of Iceland's parliament at Þingvellir in 930 AD.
Þingvellir NP, Rift Valley. To the left from the ridge is the North American tectonic plate and to the right the Eurasian plate.
The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Þingvellir is associated with the Althing, the national parliament of Iceland, which was established at the site in 930 AD. Sessions were held at the location until 1798.
Þingvellir National Park (þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum) was founded in 1930, marking the 1000th anniversary of the Althing. The park was later expanded to protect the diverse and natural phenomena in the surrounding area, and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2004. (Wikipedia)
Þingvellir NP, Rift Valley
The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. To its south lies Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.
Þingvellir is associated with the Althing, the national parliament of Iceland, which was established at the site in 930 AD. Sessions were held at the location until 1798.
Þingvellir National Park (þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum) was founded in 1930, marking the 1000th anniversary of the Althing. The park was later expanded to protect the diverse and natural phenomena in the surrounding area, and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2004. (Wikipedia)
The statue of explorer Leif Eriksson by Alexander Stirling Calder stands in front of the Hallgrímskirkja church and predates its construction. It was a gift from the United States in honour of the 1930 Althing Millennial Festival, commemorating the 1000th anniversary of Iceland's parliament at Þingvellir in 930 AD
Here is an image of one of the many trails that traverse the Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is a historic site and national park in Iceland, east of Reykjavík. It's known for the Alþing (Althing), the site of Iceland's parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. On the site are the Þingvellir Church and the ruins of old stone shelters. The park sits in a rift valley caused by the separation of 2 tectonic plates, with rocky cliffs and fissures like the huge Almannagjá fault (Source: Wikipedia).
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is the National Park where the Althing, an open-air assembly representing the whole of Iceland, was established in 930 and continued to meet until 1798. Over two weeks a year, the assembly set laws - seen as a covenant between free men - and settled disputes. The Althing has deep historical and symbolic associations for the people of Iceland. The property includes the Þingvellir National Park and the remains of the Althing itself: fragments of around 50 booths built from turf and stone. Remains from the 10th century are thought to be buried underground. This historic site also includes remains of agricultural use from the 18th and 19th centuries. The park shows evidence of the way the landscape was husbanded over 1,000 years. (Source: whc.unesco.org/en/list/1152/)
Goðafoss is perhaps one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. It is nicknamed the “Waterfall of the Gods" and is associated with a myth. According to the myth, in the year 1,000 Law-speaker of the Althing, Chieftain Thorgeir Thorkelsson, returned from Thingvellir with the decision that the nation of Iceland would convert to Christianity. He ceremoniously disposed of Norse pagan idols into the falls
This picture is from the 2 of 3 stops we made at this waterfall.
Þingvellir, anglicised as Thingvellir was the site of the Alþing, the annual parliament of Iceland from the year 930 until the last session held at Þingvellir in 1798. Since 1881, the parliament has been located within Alþingishúsið in Reykjavík.
Þingvellir is now a national park in the municipality of Bláskógabyggð in southwestern Iceland, about 40 km northeast of Iceland's capital, Reykjavík. Þingvellir is a site of historical, cultural, and geological significance, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. To its south lies Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.
Þingvellir National Park was founded in 1930, marking the 1000th anniversary of the Althing. The park was later expanded to protect the diverse and natural phenomena in the surrounding area, and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2004.
Þingvellir NP, Rift Valley. To the left from the ridge is the North American tectonic plate and to the right the Eurasian plate.
The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Þingvellir is associated with the Althing, the national parliament of Iceland, which was established at the site in 930 AD. Sessions were held at the location until 1798.
Þingvellir National Park (þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum) was founded in 1930, marking the 1000th anniversary of the Althing. The park was later expanded to protect the diverse and natural phenomena in the surrounding area, and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2004. (Wikipedia)
Acrylic on canvas 21" x 13" March 16, 2023 www.saatchiart.com/art/Painting-Low-Orbital-Tracking-Stat... #painting #peinture #kunst #konst #architecture #technology #space #cosmos #spazio #weltraum #futurism #futurismo #futurist #geometric
Þingvellir NP, Rift Valley. To the left from the ridge is the North American tectonic plate and to the right the Eurasian plate.
The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Þingvellir is associated with the Althing, the national parliament of Iceland, which was established at the site in 930 AD. Sessions were held at the location until 1798.
Þingvellir National Park (þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum) was founded in 1930, marking the 1000th anniversary of the Althing. The park was later expanded to protect the diverse and natural phenomena in the surrounding area, and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2004. (Wikipedia)
Þingvellir NP, Rift Valley. To the left from the ridge is the North American tectonic plate and to the right the Eurasian plate.
The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Þingvellir is associated with the Althing, the national parliament of Iceland, which was established at the site in 930 AD. Sessions were held at the location until 1798.
Þingvellir National Park (þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum) was founded in 1930, marking the 1000th anniversary of the Althing. The park was later expanded to protect the diverse and natural phenomena in the surrounding area, and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2004. (Wikipedia)
Op 2 maart 2012 werd er een reisje gemaakt naar Althen nabij Hannover. Hiervoor werd vroeg vanaf huis vertrokken en met de grensland express zo de grens over. Onderweg in de RE naar Hannover zagen we bij binnenkomst van het station Haste een 103 naast ons staan, geen moment werd getwijfeld en alle spullen werden bij elkaar geraapt en vlug uitgestapt. Na vertrek van de RE zagen we dat het de 103 222 van DB Systemtechnik was samen met de 189 822. Het setje stond opgebouwd richting Minden dus werd er op spoor 1 gewacht op vertrek. Minuten gingen voorbij de wolken die er waren schoven langzaam weg. De zon was volledig aanwezig toen de 103 in beweging kwam.
De foto toont de DB Systemtechnik 103 222 samen met de Siemens 189 822 vertrekken uit Haste als testrit richten Minden. Achterop de 189 822 hing een blauw vat met een vloeistof als inhoud. Deze konden ze op het spoor spuiten en kijken of het doorslipt of niet. Echter is al die jaren het doel van deze testrit mij niet duidelijk geworden.
/English\
On the second of March 2012 the DB Systemtechnik 103 222 and the Siemens 189 822 made a test run together. Here by departure in Haste on their way to Minden.
Tucked away in Þingvellir National Park, Southern Iceland is a small church. By its anglicized name, “Thingvellier,” this breathtaking location was where the Althing parliamentary general assembly met between 930 CE and 1798. It has also been home to a church for over 1,000 years. The church currently on the site dates back to 1859 and is called Þingvallakirkja.
Thanks for the fave's and comments. You can see the rest of the pics of our trip to Iceland clicking here.
My 98th image on Explore (14/08/2026), reaching No. 118!
The "neogothic space-shuttle" of the Reykjavik Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland.
Named for Hallgrímur Pétursson, the Protestant Lutheran church is the largest church in Iceland, and the second largest building in the country. Despite the likenings to the space shuttle, the church was comissioned in the 1930s, and construction began just after WW2, though it did not complete until 1986. Now one of the symbols of Iceland and Reykjavik, it was the final work of architect Guðjón Samúelsson, who did not live to see its completion. In the foreground is the memorial to Leif Erikson by Alexander Stirling Calder, gifted to Iceland by the USA in commemoration of the thousandth anniversaty of the Althing.
Two-shot HDR, taken with a Nikon D7000 and a Nikkor AFS DX 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6G lens, blended in Photomatix, then processed in GIMP and Photoscape.
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is a historic site and national park in Iceland, east of Reykjavík. It's known for the Alþing (Althing), the site of Iceland's parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. The park sits in a rift valley caused by the separation of 2 tectonic plates, with rocky cliffs and fissures like the huge Almannagjá fault.
It is early morning at the Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir is a historic site and national park in Iceland, east of Reykjavík. It's known for the Althing, the site of Iceland's parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. On the site are the Thingvellir Church and the ruins of old stone shelters. The park sits in a rift valley caused by the separation of 2 tectonic plates, with rocky cliffs and fissures like the huge Almannagjá fault.
I loved to see how those people were standing on the edge of the Almannagjá fault and the Oxarafoss with a snowcapped mountain or hill behind while where I stood on was a barren (almost) land. But I had the lake and the Althing. :)
Thingvellir National Park.
Iceland. March 2017.
Me as Good in the white leather coat on the right.
After I cut his the throat, he is hung up as a gift to the gods.
From november, filming viking 872. Bronseplassen, Norway.
Goder is described in the sagas as the religious and political leader or chief of his district who was called godord (goðorð). In Iceland, every ninth farmer had a duty to accompany his property to the Althing if the estate demanded it, and whoever escaped had to pay the courtier's costs. At the parliament, the most important men met for a discussion and the parliament was the most important hub in Norse society. In addition to court proceedings and judging between right and wrong, the youth held competitions in sports and beer parties were held for friends and relatives, news was told and connections were made and alliances formed. Poets and storytellers contributed to the entertainment.
Goden was the chief of his district and those under him were his courtiers. The relationship between them was free. The magistrate promised good support and he in turn guaranteed his magistrates protection. If they did not agree, the magistrate could choose another good one. The area of goods, good words, was thus not precisely delimited. The good words were hereditary, but could also be sold.
Photo Dejan Dukic.
Þingvellir National Park, the place where Vikings who settled in Iceland, had created the first sort of Parliament in Europe: Alþingi ("Althing" in English), the Icelandic Parliament, was established at Þingvellir in 930, and remained there until 1798. But the National Park is also a place where one can practically watch Earth' powers at work. It marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which means it is here where the two main tectonic plates, The European and the Atlantic one are drifting away of each other, tearing Iceland apart. The opening rift can be seen here at the National Park.#
Happy Monochrome Monday!