The Golden circle is one of the most famous tours in Iceland. And it´s a reason that the golden circle tour in Iceland is so famous. It comprises Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall and the hot spring area around Geysir.
Many say that Thingvellir is the heart of Iceland and for sure the history is rich there. No doubt that it was the essential place in Iceland from 930-1798 and the most important things happens there till the Parliment of Iceland was moved to Reykjavik 1798. There is a big, and significant place call Law Rock, Loberg in Icelandic, which was the key point in the Parliment. Everybody come together, all could speak there too, and the news was reported on significant events. Have in mind too that there Icelandic decided to be a Christian nation. It was the year of 1000, and no weapon was used with that decision like happens in some country. People let one man called Thorgeir which was heathen decide what they should do. After night sleep and day thinking come he with the clever decision that Iceland should be a Christian nation, though pagans, he said, might continue to practise their religion in secret. Case solved and all happy!
The Beautiful church there was built there around 1015, and I highly recommend people to see it.
But nature there are incredibly beautiful, and I must admit I newer been tired to the there even so I had done it many, many times. And standing there on the highest point, which you can easily do both in car or walking, and enjoy the view from it is excellent. Not a least in the autumn when the colours been extremely powerful.
You can too easily see the Eurasian and North-American plate boundaries that run through Iceland. In Thingvellir, they break apart and the land between subsidies. Knowing them under the landscape and see it clearly is special feeling!
Gullfoss Waterfall
One of the most famous waterfall in Iceland, Gullfoss is one of the three key points in this tours. The absolute magnificent waterfall that fall in two steps and are 32 meters high. A waterfall cascades down to all of the 70-meter deep gorges that are both rugged and beautiful at the same time
The canyon is about 2.5 kilometers long, cut into bedrock past 10,000 years, which means 25 cm a year!
Geysir
Last but not least in this tour is Geysir. And it´s the area where the most famous Geysir. Many dozens of hot springs. One of the most active is call Strokkur, which erupt with few minutes between. Many hot springs are there which are peculiar. Some colorful than others a dynamic of boiling water. It is appropriate to remind people to exercise caution in the area. The area is around 500 meters long and 100 meters wide.
It would be great to hear from you in the comment if you have been in this tour or are going to go there.
What a clever man that Thorgeir was! Maybe he was the father of diplomacy? 🙂
The Golden Circle Tour is something I must definitely see in my lifetime. The way you describe the plate boundaries in Thingvellir makes it sound just amazing. I would love to see that! Thank you for such a great post!
Thank you Samantha for nice words and your comment.
Yes Thorgeir was a clever men and had in mind Iceland is generally held to be the oldest Parliament, starting in 930. So you diplomacy was luckily need on that time 🙂