Iceland 2011

Þingvellir, a UNESCO World Heritage site, means "parliamentary plains". It is somewhat the historical heart of the country since in 930, Iceland established a parliament here, a first in Europe. And it is also here that on June 17, 1944, the country officially declared its independence.

Another important renown of Þingvellir is its geographical position because we are in the Almannagjá fault, a result of the separation of the North American and Eurasian plates, at a rate of 3 to 5 millimeters per year! If I come back here in 20 years, my footprints will have moved 10 centimeters from the center of the fault!!!  

The church and the Thingvallabaer farm in front of the Öxará river (which can boast of passing from one continent to another!)

The orientation table facing the Thingvellir plain

Lava flows frozen in time recall the volcanic activity of the place (the last eruption in the region dates back 2000 years)

The interior of the church

Whooper swans and travelers...  

Magnificent greylag geese (Anser anser) kindly let themselves be photographed. It must be nap time!

The Öxará river is so transparent that some have the irresistible urge to throw coins into it, just like in city fountains.

And that's it, the loop ends and we reach our final destination, the capital Reykjavik!

A small hamburger for dinner at the Enski barinn pub and then a good night's sleep under a real roof!