A Parliament Born Of Ice and Fire - Þingvellir National Park, Iceland

The geological history of Þingvellir National Park is forged in the heat of volcanoes, the cooling stresses of glacial immersion, and torn apart by continental drift.

By 1000AD Iceland was a society divided by religious belief. Both Pagans and Christians had set up their own laws and Parliaments - and in doing so refused to acknowledge each others laws. At Þingvellir in this same year - the Pagan Law Speaker Þorgeir Ljosvetninggagooi was asked to choose the Religion to which all Icelanders should worship.

He choose Christianity. Iceland was now united under One Religion. One Legal System. One Parliament.

Þingvellir

Hrafnagjá fault looking south

Hrafnagjá fault looking north

in the Almannagjá fault

the Sturlunga Saga describes how
the River Oxara was diverted into
the Almannagjá fault

Waterfall in the Almannagjá fault

redwing (Turdus iliacus)

singing ♂ white wagtail (Motacilla alba alba)
by the waterfall



two views of the
Almannagjá fault (looking south)

greylag goose (Anser anser)

raven (Corvus corax) with greylag goose egg

River Oxara flowing down to Lake Þingvallavatn

harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)
on the River Oxara

 displaying harlequin duck

 Almannagjá fault as it meets
the northern edge of Lake Þingvallavatn