The Golden Circle - 02/03/08

For the first time since the beginning of February we had a beautiful clear, sunny day here so this weekend we (Monika, Simona and I) took a day trip around "The Golden Circle", one of Icelands major tourist attractions. The Golden Circle encompasses Thingvellir National Park, Gulfoss waterfall and Geysir. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of our car, Simona had to jump out after Thingevellir and hitch-hike back to Reykjavik to go to work, but Monika and I carried on to Geysir and Gulfoss.

Thingvellir National Park is situated on a massive rift valley created by the shifting Euro-Asian and American tectonic plates. It is awash with ridges, valleys, cliffs waterfalls and lakes. It is also the site of the worlds first democratically elected parliament, created by the Vikings.

Thingvellir

Gulfoss (Gold Falls) is an immense double cascade waterfall. It was particularly impressive covered in ice and snow although we did miss the trademark rainbow that gives the falls their name.

Gullfoss

Geysir is THE original geyser from which all others get their name. 'Geysir' itself only erupts sporadically now, once or twice a day as in the 1950's tourists used to throw rocks in it to try and set it off. Luckily just a (proverbial) stones throw away is Strokkur which erupted four times in the half an hour that we were there.

Geysir