Þingvalliavatn
Mountains rise above Þingvalliavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland. Covering an area of 84 square kilometers (32 square miles), the lake reaches a depth of 114 metres (374 feet) at its deepest point. Þingvallavatn is a rift lake that fills down-faulted valleys situated on a part of the Mid-Atlantic Rift known as the Reykjanes Ridge that comes a shore in Iceland. Sandey is a small volcano that formed along the rift zone and forms an island in the lake. The only outflow of the lake is the river Sog (Sogið).
Þingvalliavatn is home to 4 the four morphs of Arctic Char that inhabit the lake. The lake’s char are an excellent example of species adapting to a secluded environment; over ten thousand years. In this case, biologist believe that one species of Char transformed into four different-sub branches.
Þingvalliavatn takes its name from the historical founding of the Icelandic parliament, the Alþingi, which occurred in 930 AD in the rift valleys of the area now known as Þingvellir National Park. Þingvellir literally translates to ‘Fields of Parliament’. Southern portions of the lake lie within the boundaries of the current National Park.
This photo was taken from a senic overlook along the Þingvallavegur (Iceland Route 36).
References:
guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/thingvallavatn
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_char
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Þingvallavatn
Þingvalliavatn
Mountains rise above Þingvalliavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland. Covering an area of 84 square kilometers (32 square miles), the lake reaches a depth of 114 metres (374 feet) at its deepest point. Þingvallavatn is a rift lake that fills down-faulted valleys situated on a part of the Mid-Atlantic Rift known as the Reykjanes Ridge that comes a shore in Iceland. Sandey is a small volcano that formed along the rift zone and forms an island in the lake. The only outflow of the lake is the river Sog (Sogið).
Þingvalliavatn is home to 4 the four morphs of Arctic Char that inhabit the lake. The lake’s char are an excellent example of species adapting to a secluded environment; over ten thousand years. In this case, biologist believe that one species of Char transformed into four different-sub branches.
Þingvalliavatn takes its name from the historical founding of the Icelandic parliament, the Alþingi, which occurred in 930 AD in the rift valleys of the area now known as Þingvellir National Park. Þingvellir literally translates to ‘Fields of Parliament’. Southern portions of the lake lie within the boundaries of the current National Park.
This photo was taken from a senic overlook along the Þingvallavegur (Iceland Route 36).
References:
guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/thingvallavatn
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_char
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Þingvallavatn