Natural
Parc national de Þingvellir
Islande
Photo : Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Located in southwestern Iceland, this national park encompasses a significant geological and historical landscape where the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is visible above sea level. The site is characterized by the Þingvellir rift valley, formed by the divergence of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, which creates a dramatic topography of fissures, cliffs, and valleys. The area holds considerable historical importance as the location of Althingi, Iceland's first parliament, established in 930 and one of the world's oldest legislative assemblies. The park's natural features include the Öxarárfoss waterfall, Lake Þingvallavatn, and diverse basaltic rock formations that reflect Iceland's volcanic geology. The combination of geological significance, visible plate tectonics, and medieval historical remains makes this site a notable example of the interaction between natural processes and human settlement in Iceland's landscape.
