The Golden Circle
This was going to be the highlight for me. Seeing the Geysir and the spectacular waterfall at Gullfoss. We set out first thing in the morning and we travelled with Greyline.
The classical sights of the Golden Circle are the Geysir geothermal area, the Golden waterfall, Gullfoss and the national park of Þingvellir. . .
Þingvellir - the only place in the world were you can easily see the tectonic plates move apart from each other You can stand on the American tectonic plate and look over at the European tectonic plate. This is the only place in the world where it is easy to see it above sea level.
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Gullfoss - magnificent waterfall
Gullfoss (The Golden waterfall) is Iceland’s most famous waterfall, and one of the natural wonders of the world. It is in the mighty glacial river Hvítá (White river), just a few kilometers from another natural wonder, the world-famous Geysir. The enormous white glacial cascade drops 32 meters into a narrow canyon, which is 70 meters deep, and 2,5 kilometers long. It is a spectacular two-tiered cataract which hangs in the air like fine drizzle and forms a rainbow in the sunlight. In winter it has an unusual appearance when it becomes petrified in ice.
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Geysir - the geothermal area where hot water spouts up from the ground
The hot springs in the Geysir area are of different types. Geysir and the hot springs to the west and south are normal hot springs, i.e. they emit hot water ascending through narrow channels from deep sources in the crust. The temperature of the hot springs is up to 100 degrees and some are constantly boiling – if the temperature at depth rises above boiling the hot springs erupt which means that they are geysers. The word geyser is derived from the name of the famous Geysir. At about 23 m depth in the Geysir pipe the water is at 120 degrees in temperature.
This popular excursion introduces you to some of the best-known natural phenomena in Iceland. We visit Nesjavellir power plant, high temperature geothermal area situated in the picturesque landscape of Lake Þingvallavatn. We enter Þingvellir, there the Icelandic parliament Alþingi was founded in 930, which makes it the oldest known functioning parliament in the world. Geologically it is unique and there the tectonic plates meet, that is America and Europe, and these continents are slowly drifting apart. We continue to the beautiful waterfall Gullfoss and from there towards the geothermal area around the incredible spouting hot springs of Geysir and Strokkur.
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PINGVELLIR was declared a national park in 1930. A law was passed designating Þingvellir as “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.”
Preservation measures at Þingvellir were modelled on the national parks that had been established somewhat earlier in the United States to stem changes to the natural environment there resulting from encroachment by settlers. National parks conserved large uninhabited areas, which people could visit and enjoy - but not settle or develop.
Iceland identified a similar need to preserve certain natural and historical sites for future generations to enjoy them in their original state. Today, Þingvellir is one of the most frequently visited tourist sites in the country. Each year, thousands of visitors go there to become better acquainted with Iceland's greatest historical site and jewel of nature.
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN AND OWNED BY BAIRDSTRAVEL