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Goðafoss 20210719
Godafoss waterfall is a picturesque waterfall in Bardardalur valley in North Iceland.
River Skjalfandafljot runs north through the beautiful Bardardalur valley and falls from a height of 12 meters in Godafoss waterfall.
The waterfall is split into two massive crags that resemble pagan idols. And as the story goes, this is where the waterfall’s name derives from.
Legend has it, that when Icelanders decided to become Christians, the population was split in half, pagans and Christians. At Althingi, in the year 1000, the local chieftains decided that one man should decide on which religion should prevail in Iceland. Than man was Thorgeir, chieftain from Ljosavatn in Bardardalur.
After pondering on this subject for three days, he ruled that all in Iceland should be Christians, but those who wished to be pagans could do so in the secrecy of their homes.
When Thorgeir returned to his farmstead at Ljosavatn, he took his pagan idols and threw them into the waterfall. The gods, Odinn and Thor, were so outraged by this that they split the waterfall in two.
However, although Thorgeir’s role in the adoption of Christianity in Iceland is confirmed in the Islendingabok manuscript, by author Ari ‘The Wise’ Thorgilsson, there’s no mention in any medieval literature of this myth concerning the waterfall. It seems that it was fabricated in the 19th century.
Well, it’s still an interesting legend and when you are at Godafoss waterfall it is easy to see the images of the pagan idols in the two crags.
Source Reykjavik Private Cars.
This is one my favorite moments in my birdphotography the last months. These 4 geese are actually standing on the dorestep of the Icelandic parliament house in the center of Reykjavik and behind them is the main enterance to parliament. Not far from the house is city pond. So I guess they had wondered away from it to try out their luck in politics. Some people in Iceland would argue it could not get any worse having geese there.
The best part is that its easy to be sarcastic about it because parlament is now made of 4 political parties which 2 of them having majoriti and 2 in the opposition so these fethered friends might well be their leaders…2 facing the lens holding heads up hight and 2 looking away with disapproval.
Ingólfr Arnarson was from the valley of Rivedal in Sunnfjord in western Norway. According to the Icelandic Book of Settlements, he built his homestead in and gave name to Reykjavík in 874. However, archaeological finds in Iceland suggest settlement may have started somewhat earlier. The medieval chronicler Ari Þorgilsson said Ingólfr was the first Nordic settler in Iceland, but mentioned that Irish monks had been in the country before the Norsemen. He wrote that they left because they did not want to live among the newly arrived Norse pagans.
The Book of Settlements (written two to three centuries after the settlement) contains a story about Ingólfr's arrival. The book claims he left Norway after becoming involved in a blood feud. He had heard about a new island which Garðar Svavarsson, Hrafna-Flóki and others had found in the Atlantic Ocean. With his blood brother Hjörleifr Hróðmarsson, he sailed for Iceland. When land was in sight, he threw his high seat pillars overboard and promised to settle where the gods decided to bring them ashore. Two of his slaves then searched the coasts for three years before finding the pillars in the small bay which eventually became the site of Reykjavík.
]In the meantime, Hjörleifr had been murdered by his Irish slaves. Ingólfr hunted them down and killed them in the Westman Islands. The islands got their name from that event, with westmen (Old Norse: vestmenn) being a name that the Norsemen used for the Irish. Ingólfr was said to have settled a large part of southwestern Iceland, although after his settlement nothing more was known of him. His son, Þorsteinn Ingólfsson, was a major chieftain and was said to have founded the Kjalarnesþing [is], the first thing, or parliament, in Iceland. It was a forerunner of the Althingi
[Explore#150-04-02]
This shot was a kind of a test for my, at the time of the taking, brand new 15mm Pentax lens. Today, I dare say it's my favourite lens, although its rather extreme wide angle character is a bit prohibitive in some situations.
The waterfall on the picture (Öxarárfoss) is at Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park.
"Its a great beauty, and of large historical significance for Iceland. The Althingi, one of the oldest parliaments in the world, had its founding here in 930AD. This is also the site where Iceland officially became a Christian nation in 1000.
In 1944 it was the spot where Iceland was officially declared an independent and free nation from Denmark, which had colonized it for almost 400 years.
Thingvellir is Iceland's first national park. In 2004, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) added it to the World Heritage List.
The park is also home to Almannagjá, (English: Everyman's gap) - where this photo is taken - which is one of the world's premier examples of plate tectonics."
www.ehow.com/list_6028015_iceland_s-national-monuments.html
Interesting read, and three mini-videos about the waterfall Öxarárfoss and its embeddedness in the National park: www.world-of-waterfalls.com/iceland-oxararfoss.html
Oxararfoss Waterfall gushes out of the mighty cliffs of Almannagjo Gorge in southwest Iceland. Small in size but big in presence, the 13 m (44 ft) high waterfall is located inside Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Oxararfoss Waterfall is famed for being a film location in the hit TV series Game of Thrones. It’s also known for its special geology. The human-made waterfall sits on the edge of the boundary line between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.Oxararfoss Waterfall isn’t only rich in beauty — the waterfall and its surrounding area are also rich in geology and history. Oxararfoss facts:
is a human-made waterfall created to redirect water into a ravine, and ravine water was used by members of Iceland’s first parliament, Althingi, during the 10th century.
Interestingly this is a man made waterfall. As strange as this may sound geologists and historians have discovered that the river Öxará was moved hundreds of years ago, to channel the water into the ravine Almannagjá in the ninth century. The purpose was to provide water for the members and visitors of the Icelandic parliament Althingi in the 9th century.
Everything dies, I’m afraid.
Let’s never get too right about the things.
Because of the contrast, I think at some point in the winter snow, trees turns blacker than black.
In the garden behind Althingi (the Parliament) I found “Ljónsmunna” which are fighting against the blackness and cold winter.
These almost frozen Lion mouth flowers are still with pink colours and green leaves.
Leonard Cohen is gone, who always could find shades in the blackness that felt like beautiful colours.
His brilliant colourful songs never dies.
Press "L" for better view.
The Alþingi (Icelandic for 'general meeting' and anglicised as Althingi or Althing) is the supreme national parliament of Iceland. It is one of the oldest surviving parliaments in the world. The Althing was founded in 930 at Þingvellir ('thing fields' or 'assembly fields'), about 45 kilometres (28 mi) east of what later became the country's capital, Reykjavík.
After Iceland's union with Norway in 1262, the Althing lost its legislative power, which was not restored until 1903 when Iceland gained Home Rule from Denmark. For 641 years, the Althing did not serve as the parliament of Iceland, ultimately power rested with the Norwegian, and subsequently the Danish throne.
Even after Iceland's union with Norway in 1262, the Althing still held its sessions at Þingvellir until 1800, when it was discontinued. It was restored in 1844 by royal decree and moved to Reykjavík. The restored unicameral legislature first came together in 1845 and after 1874 operated in two chambers with an additional third chamber taking on a greater role as the decades passed until 1991 when Althing became once again unicameral.
The present parliament building, the Alþingishús, was built in 1881, made of hewn Icelandic stone. The unicameral parliament has 63 members, and is elected every four years based on party-list proportional representation. The current speaker of the Althing is Birgir Ármannsson. From Wikipedia with a few edits.
The lake is about 9 miles (14 km) long and up to 6 miles (10 km) wide and reaches a depth of 374 feet (114 m). It is among the largest lakes in Iceland, with an area of 32 square miles (82 square km), and is a popular spot for trout and char fishing. The lake drains southward to the Atlantic Ocean via the Sog River, which is itself a tributary of the Ölfusá River. On its northern shore stands Thingvellir, the historical meeting place of the Althingi (parliament) from 930 until 1798; it has been part of a national park since 1928. Thingvellir was also the site of the proclamation of the Republic of Iceland on June 17, 1944. - www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Thingvalla
From 930 to 1798 the Althingi or national parliament of Iceland met at Thingvellir, 47 km east of Reykjavik. The white building on the right is the current summer residence of the prime minister of Iceland.
Nearly midnight and this is how still light it is.
nat.is/travelguideeng/plofin_ljosavatn.htm
Ljosavatn is a lake, farm and a church site in Pass Ljosavatnsskard near the mouth of Valley Bardardalur. It was an official assembly place for the district and common assembly place until the turn of the 19th century and a primary and secondary school during the period 1908-14. Ljosavatn is best known as the residence of the pagan chieftain Thorgeir Thorkelsson before and after the year 1000. That year, the common parliament for the whole country, Althingi, was to choose between Paganism and Christianity as the state religion. The majority of the people was pagan, but Christians had lived in the country from the beginning and many had been babtized since the Age of Settlement. The armies of both groups stood in the Parliamentary Plains ready to fight for their believes, when wise men succeeded in convincing the assembly to leave the decision up to one of the chieftains and Thorgeir was chosen. He accepted this responsibility on the condition, that there would be no disputes about his decision, and left to deliberate. His decided for Christianity, and most of the people attending were babtized on the spot or on their way home.
Thorgeir’s grandfather, Thorkell mani, was among the settlers of the country. He built his farm at Oxara, on the banks of a river by the same name, nowadays the southernmost farm of County Ljosavatn. Big family houses descended from the so-called Ljosvetninga Clan, such as the ones named after the farms Reykjahlid and Skutustadir on Lake Myvatn.
Akureyri or Husavik
nat.is/travelguideeng/plofin_ljosavatn.htm
Ljosavatn is a lake, farm and a church site in Pass Ljosavatnsskard near the mouth of Valley Bardardalur. It was an official assembly place for the district and common assembly place until the turn of the 19th century and a primary and secondary school during the period 1908-14. Ljosavatn is best known as the residence of the pagan chieftain Thorgeir Thorkelsson before and after the year 1000. That year, the common parliament for the whole country, Althingi, was to choose between Paganism and Christianity as the state religion. The majority of the people was pagan, but Christians had lived in the country from the beginning and many had been babtized since the Age of Settlement. The armies of both groups stood in the Parliamentary Plains ready to fight for their believes, when wise men succeeded in convincing the assembly to leave the decision up to one of the chieftains and Thorgeir was chosen. He accepted this responsibility on the condition, that there would be no disputes about his decision, and left to deliberate. His decided for Christianity, and most of the people attending were babtized on the spot or on their way home.
Thorgeir’s grandfather, Thorkell mani, was among the settlers of the country. He built his farm at Oxara, on the banks of a river by the same name, nowadays the southernmost farm of County Ljosavatn. Big family houses descended from the so-called Ljosvetninga Clan, such as the ones named after the farms Reykjahlid and Skutustadir on Lake Myvatn.
Akureyri or Husavik
Þingvellir is a place in Bláskógabyggð in southwestern Iceland, near the peninsula of Reykjanes and the Hengill volcanic area. Þingvellir is a site of historical, cultural, and geological importance and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. It is the site of a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. (...) Parliament or Alþingi was established at Þingvellir in 930 and remained there until 1789. Þingvellir National Park was founded in 1930 to protect the remains of the parliament site and was later expanded to protect natural phenomena in the surrounding area. Þingvellir National Park was the first national park in Iceland and 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 Landnámabók, the settlement of Iceland began in AD 874 when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfur 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 Arnarson 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 (then name for the Þingvellir region) was found guilty of murder and his land was declared public and obligated to be used for assembly proceedings, the building of temporary dwellings, the use of the forest for kindling and the grazing of horses. The Þingvellir region was chosen for this reason and the accessibility from the most populous regions of the North, South and West. The farthest distance a goði (chieftain) had to travel was 17 days traveling 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 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 Alþingi (assembly) at Þingvellir was Iceland's supreme legislative and judicial authority from its establishment in 930 until 1271. The Lögberg (Law Rock) was the focal point of the Alþingi and a natural platform for holding speeches. The Lawspeaker, elected for three years at a time, presided over the assembly and recited the law of the land. Before the law was written down, he was expected to recite it from memory on the Lögberg over the course of three summers along with the complete assembly procedures every summer. Inauguration and dissolution of the assembly took place at the Lögberg, where rulings made by the Law Council were announced, the calendar was confirmed, legal actions were brought and other announcements made which concerned the entire nation. Anyone attending the assembly was entitled to present his case on important issues from the Lögberg. The Law Council served as both a parliament and supreme court. Laws were passed and approved there, and rulings made on points of Law. The Law Council appointed members of the Fifth Court (a kind of appellate court), appointed the Lawspeaker, and took part in the election of the bishop. Unlike the Alþingi, the Law Council was a closed body in which only certain people enjoyed full rights: chieftains who held the office of "goði", their "Þingmen" and later also bishops. However, everyone at the assembly was entitled to watch and listen to the Law Council at work. From the earliest times until the 15th century, the Law Council met at Neðri-Vellir on the east bank of Öxará, but when the river changed its course around 1500, the council was moved to an islet in it. In 1594, the Law Council was relocated to the foot of the ancient Law Rock, where it remained until the Alþingi was finally transferred from it in 1798. The Alþingi was Iceland's legislative and chief judicial authority for the duration of the Commonwealth, until 1271. Executive power was in the hands of the chieftains and parties to individual cases at each time. This proved to be quite an adequate arrangement for as long as the balance of power remained, but flaws emerged when it was disrupted. The final decades of the Commonwealth were characterized by clashes between chieftain families, which resulted in Iceland becoming part of the Norwegian crown. Executive power was strengthened under this new order, while legislative and judicial authority remained in the hands of the Alþingi but was gradually transferred to the Norwegian and later Danish rulers until the King of Denmark became an absolute monarch of Iceland in 1662.
Nearly midnight and it was still very light!
nat.is/travelguideeng/plofin_ljosavatn.htm
Ljosavatn is a lake, farm and a church site in Pass Ljosavatnsskard near the mouth of Valley Bardardalur. It was an official assembly place for the district and common assembly place until the turn of the 19th century and a primary and secondary school during the period 1908-14. Ljosavatn is best known as the residence of the pagan chieftain Thorgeir Thorkelsson before and after the year 1000. That year, the common parliament for the whole country, Althingi, was to choose between Paganism and Christianity as the state religion. The majority of the people was pagan, but Christians had lived in the country from the beginning and many had been babtized since the Age of Settlement. The armies of both groups stood in the Parliamentary Plains ready to fight for their believes, when wise men succeeded in convincing the assembly to leave the decision up to one of the chieftains and Thorgeir was chosen. He accepted this responsibility on the condition, that there would be no disputes about his decision, and left to deliberate. His decided for Christianity, and most of the people attending were babtized on the spot or on their way home.
Thorgeir’s grandfather, Thorkell mani, was among the settlers of the country. He built his farm at Oxara, on the banks of a river by the same name, nowadays the southernmost farm of County Ljosavatn. Big family houses descended from the so-called Ljosvetninga Clan, such as the ones named after the farms Reykjahlid and Skutustadir on Lake Myvatn.
Akureyri or Husavik
Extending from the Langjokull glacier to mount Hengill, Thingvallavatn Lake, Iceland is the largest natural lake in the country. The lake Thingvallavatn is located along the North Atlantic Ridge and is one of the most picturesque sights to capture.
The Thingvallavatn lake is situated on the Southwestern side of Iceland. Located within the premises of the first national park, Thingvellir, the lake is an important stop for those exploring the Golden Circle. This rift valley lake is spread across 84 kilometers, and the deepest part of the lake measures 114 meters. The Thingvallavatn lake has a lot of geological history to it and is one of the most popular diving spots. As one of the most unique lakes in the world, Thingvallavatn is known to support four separate varieties of arctic char.
The lake is partially situated within the national park, which is the only UNESCO world heritage and cultural site in Iceland. Lake Thingvallavatn's history is related to the location itself. It is a historical reminder of Iceland’s early quests for independence. Until 1798, Thingvellir was the venue of gathering under old parliament governance. The historical meeting place of the Althingi was being used for the assembly since 930.
Explore #8
Went hunting for aurora together with Eiki and Hlynur. We saw some incredible aurora tonight. We even saw some orange lights.
Working on a research project about the physics of the aurora at University of Iceland. It turns out that there are a lot of things concerning the aurora that we haven't really explained.
The purple colour is caused by the ionisation of the nitrogen molecule. Emitting light with wavelengths such as 391.4 nm and 427.8 nm. The green colour is due to the decay of excited oxygen atoms and has the wavelength 557.7 nm.
Supposedly the brightness of the purple light is comparable to the common green light that most of us associate with the aurora. However, our eyes aren't as sensitive to purple light as green light and so we perceive it as being stronger.
Thingvellir is one of Iceland’s most important historical and natural sites, located about 45 km northeast of Reykjavík. In 930 AD, it became the meeting place of the Alþingi, one of the world's oldest continuously existing parliaments, making Þingvellir a cornerstone of Icelandic history and national identity. The area is also famous for its unique geology, situated in a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Today, Þingvellir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the three stops on Iceland’s famous Golden Circle route. Visitors come to explore its dramatic landscapes, historic assembly sites, lava fields, waterfalls, and crystal-clear fissures.
Notable locations within Þingvellir
Almannagjá - the largest rift in the park and the historic route to the assembly grounds.
Lögberg - the "Law Rock," where laws were recited and speeches delivered during Alþingi gatherings.
Öxarárfoss - a picturesque waterfall surrounded by lava formations.
Silfra - a famous water-filled fissure known for exceptional underwater visibility.
Þingvallavatn - Iceland’s largest natural lake.
This is Goðafoss in the Northern part of Iceland. It's about a 45 minutes drive from Akureyri. It is said that the name "Goðafoss" derives from when Iceland decided to be a christian society. Thorgeir Ljosvetningagodi, who got the job of deciding that at Althingi, is said to have gone here when he came home, with all his pagan statues or "goð" and threw them in. Thus the name "Goðafoss"
I might add that this photo is taken using multible exposures on the Nikon D300
Photo of the day on CNN's iReport on 17 August 2011
Thingvellir, Church
Thingvellir is a natural shrine of outstanding natural beauty. Many of the most momentous events of Icelandic history took place at Thingvellir, where Althingi(the first Assembly) was founded in 930 and continued to assemble every summer until 1798. It was at Thingvellir that the Icelandic nation agreed to adopt Christianity in 1000 & the first Icelandic church was built on this very site.
To celebrate the 1000 year anniversary of Iceland’s parliament, Alþingi, this building was built for the festivities at Þingvellir in 1930. The building has served as the official summer residence of the Prime Minister since 1974.
Model is Svala Jónsdóttir. Hundreds of years ago the laws here in Iceland were very different and at Althingi, that was then held at Þingvellir, several women were drowned for no bigger "crime" than having a child out of wedlock, some others for witchcraft. They were tied into a sack and thrown into "Drekkingarhylur" or "The Drowning pool" wich you see there behind Svala.
Idea behind the shoot was to make Svala into somewhat of a witch and shoot her at this location. Makeup and hair by Henný. Lighting was one bowens monolight with a 75° softlite reflector. Those little black spots on the photo is not sensor dust, it was swarming with flies and considering the feel of the photo, there was no way I was going to clone them out.
Realized as I was processing this that I took it during friday the 13th, wierd huh?
I also took one in this set of her standing barefoot in the pool that´s in this set, called it "In the drowning pool". I like this one better of the two.
Thingvellir, is 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. The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American tectonic plate and the Eurasian. To its south lies Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.
Model is Svala Jónsdóttir. Hundreds of years ago the laws here in Iceland were very different and at Althingi, that was then held at Þingvellir, several women were drowned for no bigger "crime" than having a child out of wedlock, some others for witchcraft. They were tied into a sack and thrown into "Drekkingarhylur" or "The Drowning pool" wich Svala is standing in.
Idea behind the shoot was to make Svala into somewhat of a witch and shoot her at this location. Makeup and hair by Henný. Lighting was one bowens monolight with a 75° softlite reflector. I shot this photo blind, or not looking throught he viewfinder, the camera was litterally 2-3 cm from the surface of the water and the neckstrap got soaked as I forgot to weave it around my hand.
Realized as I was processing this that I took it during friday the 13th, wierd huh?
I also took one that´s in this set of her standing by the pool, called it "By the drowning pool". I am more happy with that shot as it was lit better, I didn´t use a light meter for this as I didn´t wade into the water but I also like this photo a lot and wanted to post both.
Thingvellir, is 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. The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American tectonic plate and the Eurasian. To its south lies Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.
To celebrate the 1000 year anniversary of Iceland’s parliament, Alþingi, this building was built for the festivities at Þingvellir in 1930. The building has served as the official summer residence of the Prime Minister since 1974.
Iceland Complimentary Map
Iceland is a Nordic island country located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, known for its dramatic landscapes of volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, and hot springs, earning it the nickname "Land of Fire and Ice". Its capital is Reykjavík, and it is a sparsely populated nation with a surprisingly mild climate due to the Gulf Stream. The country is a geological hotspot due to its location between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Geography: Located in the North Atlantic Ocean, near the Arctic Circle, Iceland is situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. It is one of Europe's westernmost countries and has much of its land covered by glaciers and volcanic features.
Climate: Despite its high latitude, Iceland has a temperate climate warmed by the Gulf Stream. Summers are chilly, but the ocean influence prevents it from getting extremely cold, making it one of the northernmost inhabited places on the planet.
Geology: The country is geologically active, with frequent volcanic eruptions, geysers, and hot springs. Geothermal energy is a major source for heating homes and powering the country.
Culture and society: The capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which is home to a significant portion of the country's small population. Iceland is known for its democratic government, having one of the oldest legislative assemblies in the world, the Althingi, founded in 930.
Economy: Historically reliant on fishing, Iceland's economy has developed in recent decades with a focus on renewable energy, such as hydropower, and other industries.
Thingvellir is one of Iceland’s most important historical and natural sites, located about 45 km northeast of Reykjavík. In 930 AD, it became the meeting place of the Alþingi, one of the world's oldest continuously existing parliaments, making Þingvellir a cornerstone of Icelandic history and national identity. The area is also famous for its unique geology, situated in a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Today, Þingvellir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the three stops on Iceland’s famous Golden Circle route. Visitors come to explore its dramatic landscapes, historic assembly sites, lava fields, waterfalls, and crystal-clear fissures.
Notable locations within Þingvellir
Almannagjá – the largest rift in the park and the historic route to the assembly grounds.
Lögberg – the "Law Rock," where laws were recited and speeches delivered during Alþingi gatherings.
Öxarárfoss – a picturesque waterfall surrounded by lava formations.
Silfra – a famous water-filled fissure known for exceptional underwater visibility.
Þingvallavatn – Iceland’s largest natural lake.
The icy water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters forming Goðafoss (The waterfall of the gods), one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. It is located in North-Central Iceland in Bardardalur. Skjálfandafljót runs through Bárðardalur valley, all the way from Sprengisandur in the Central Highlands. The rock formations in and around the waterfall make it one of the greatest natural wonders in Iceland.The name of the waterfall dates back to 999 or 1000 when the lawmaker Thorgeir Ljosvetningagodi threw his statues of the Norse Gods into the waterfall, on his return from Althingi where he decided on converting from heathendom and made christianity Iceland's official religion.
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland, located on the southwestern coast of the country along Faxaflói Bay. According to the Book of Settlements (Landnámabók), the area was first permanently settled around 874 AD by Ingólfur Arnarson, who named it Reykjavík, meaning "Smoky Bay," after the steam rising from nearby geothermal hot springs.
For centuries Reykjavík remained a small farming settlement. In 1786, it received its municipal charter from the Danish Crown, becoming one of Iceland's first official trading towns. During the 19th century it developed into the country's administrative, commercial, and cultural center, and when Iceland became a sovereign state in 1918, Reykjavík became its capital. Following the establishment of the Republic of Iceland in 1944, the city continued to expand and today serves as the country's political, economic, educational, and cultural center.
I was recently going through some older photos and stumbled across this one, most likely discarded because of the people in it. I now realise how much they give a sense of scale to the scene.
Thingvellir is a natural shrine of outstanding natural beauty. Many of the most momentous events of Icelandic history took place at Thingvellir, where Althingi was founded in 930 and continued to assemble every summer until 1798. It was at Thingvellir that the Icelandic nation agreed to adopt Christianity in 1000 and the modern republic was founded in 1944. In 1928 Thingvellir was made Iceland’s first national park. In 2004 Thingvellir was officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Þingvellir is a place in Bláskógabyggð in southwestern Iceland, near the peninsula of Reykjanes and the Hengill volcanic area. Þingvellir is a site of historical, cultural, and geological importance and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. It is the site of a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It is also home to Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland. Parliament or Alþingi was established at Þingvellir in 930 and remained there until 1789.
Þingvellir National Park was founded in 1930 to protect the remains of the parliament site and was later expanded to protect natural phenomena in the surrounding area. Þingvellir National Park was the first national park in Iceland and 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."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thingvellir
The Alþingi, Anglicised variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national parliament—literally, "(the) all-thing" (= general assembly)—of Iceland. The Althingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world still extant. It was founded in 930 at Þingvellir, (the "assembly fields" or "Parliament Plains"), situated approximately 45 km east of what would later become the country's capital, Reykjavík, and this event marked the beginning of the Icelandic Commonwealth. Even after Iceland's union with Norway, the Althing still held its sessions at Þingvellir until 1799, when it was discontinued for 45 years. It was restored in 1844 and moved to Reykjavík, where it has resided ever since.
The Icelandic landmark Valhöll in the National Park of Thingvellir, burned to ashes on July 10, 2009. By chance, we were on a sightseeing flight right then. This photo was published in the front page of a national newspaper the next day. Copyrighted, of course.
Hotel Valhöll had been constructed in 1898. In 1929, the building was transported to its location in the National Park of Thingvellir and renovated for the celebration of the millennium anniversary of the Icelandic parliament, Althingi, in 1930. The house had been in state ownership since 2002.
Nobody was injured in the fire, luckily, but one of the hotel’s employees required medical treatment due to smoke poisoning.
The fire is likely to have started in a chimney in the kitchen.
The Alþingi (anglicised as Althingi or Althing) is the national parliament of Iceland. It is the oldest parliament in the world. The Althing was founded in 930 at Þingvellir ("thing fields"), situated approximately 45 kilometres (28 mi) east of what later became the country's capital, Reykjavík. Even after Iceland's union with Norway in 1262, the Althing still held its sessions at Þingvellir until 1800, when it was discontinued for 45 years. It was restored in 1844 and moved to Reykjavík, where it has resided ever since. The present parliament building, the Alþingishús, was built in 1881, of hewn Icelandic stone.
Thingvellir is one of Iceland’s most important historical and natural sites, located about 45 km northeast of Reykjavík. In 930 AD, it became the meeting place of the Alþingi, one of the world's oldest continuously existing parliaments, making Þingvellir a cornerstone of Icelandic history and national identity. The area is also famous for its unique geology, situated in a rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Today, Þingvellir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the three stops on Iceland’s famous Golden Circle route. Visitors come to explore its dramatic landscapes, historic assembly sites, lava fields, waterfalls, and crystal-clear fissures.
Notable locations within Þingvellir
Almannagjá – the largest rift in the park and the historic route to the assembly grounds.
Lögberg – the "Law Rock," where laws were recited and speeches delivered during Alþingi gatherings.
Öxarárfoss – a picturesque waterfall surrounded by lava formations.
Silfra – a famous water-filled fissure known for exceptional underwater visibility.
Þingvallavatn – Iceland’s largest natural lake.
Statue by Alexander Calder. Gift of the United States (by Act of Congress) to commemorate the 1000th anniversary in 1930 of the Althingi, the Icelandic Parliament, .
The Alþingi (anglicised as Althingi or Althing) is the national parliament of Iceland. It is the oldest parliament in the world. The Althing was founded in 930 at Þingvellir ("thing fields"), situated approximately 45 kilometres (28 mi) east of what later became the country's capital, Reykjavík. Even after Iceland's union with Norway in 1262, the Althing still held its sessions at Þingvellir until 1800, when it was discontinued for 45 years. It was restored in 1844 and moved to Reykjavík, where it has resided ever since. The present parliament building, the Alþingishús, was built in 1881, of hewn Icelandic stone.
35mm be negative film.
A Church has been at Helgafell since 1000 when Christianity was adopted by Althingi - Parliament and is Helgafellschurch the oldest church in this part of the country. Snorri Goði built the first house of God at Holyfell - Helgafell and since then there have been many churches for over 1000 years. At Helgafell Gudrun Osvifursdottir is buried.
The present church was built in 1903 and was inaugurated on January 1, 1904. It was built on the same basis as the elder stood. Carpenter was Sveinn Jonsson from Stykkishólmi-ur. The church is made of wood, iron clad and takes about 80 people. The cost of the building 100 years ago was 4,420 kr. & 12 aur.
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland, located on the southwestern coast of the country along Faxaflói Bay. According to the Book of Settlements (Landnámabók), the area was first permanently settled around 874 AD by Ingólfur Arnarson, who named it Reykjavík, meaning "Smoky Bay," after the steam rising from nearby geothermal hot springs.
For centuries Reykjavík remained a small farming settlement. In 1786, it received its municipal charter from the Danish Crown, becoming one of Iceland's first official trading towns. During the 19th century it developed into the country's administrative, commercial, and cultural center, and when Iceland became a sovereign state in 1918, Reykjavík became its capital. Following the establishment of the Republic of Iceland in 1944, the city continued to expand and today serves as the country's political, economic, educational, and cultural center.
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland, located on the shores of Faxaflói Bay in southwest Iceland. According to tradition, it was founded around 874 AD by Ingólfur Arnarson, making it the oldest permanent settlement in Iceland. The city received its municipal charter in 1786 and gradually developed into the country's political, cultural, and economic center. Today, Reykjavík is known for its colorful architecture, vibrant arts scene, geothermal energy, and unique combination of urban life and nearby natural landscapes.
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland, located on the southwestern coast of the country along Faxaflói Bay. According to the Book of Settlements (Landnámabók), the area was first permanently settled around 874 AD by Ingólfur Arnarson, who named it Reykjavík, meaning "Smoky Bay," after the steam rising from nearby geothermal hot springs.
For centuries Reykjavík remained a small farming settlement. In 1786, it received its municipal charter from the Danish Crown, becoming one of Iceland's first official trading towns. During the 19th century it developed into the country's administrative, commercial, and cultural center, and when Iceland became a sovereign state in 1918, Reykjavík became its capital. Following the establishment of the Republic of Iceland in 1944, the city continued to expand and today serves as the country's political, economic, educational, and cultural center.
To celebrate the 1000 year anniversary of Iceland’s parliament, Alþingi, this building was built for the festivities at Þingvellir in 1930. The building has served as the official summer residence of the Prime Minister since 1974.
We were happy to be invited by Siv Friðleifsdóttir to see the Alþingi, the parliament of Iceland and the oldest parliament in the world. What we got was one hour of guiding with extremely exciting and detailed descriptions of how it was to experience the rallies after the bank crisis in 2008/2009. We just can say "wow" and "thank you". We will never forget it.
Takk til vaktmannen som var så hyggelig å ta dette bildet for oss.