Þingvellir (Icelandic: [ˈθiŋkˌvɛtlɪr̥], also called Thingvellir) was the location of the Alþing, Iceland's annual parliament, from the year 930 until its final meeting at Þingvellir in 1798. Since 1881, the parliament has met in Alþingishúsið, a building in Reykjavík, Iceland's capital.

Today, Þingvellir is a national park in the municipality of Bláskógabyggð, in southwestern Iceland, about 40 km (25 miles) northeast of Reykjavík. The area is important for its history, culture, and geology, and it is one of Iceland's most visited places. The park is located in a rift valley that sits above the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. To the south of the park is Þingvallavatn, Iceland's largest natural lake.

Þingvellir National Park (þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum [ˈθjouðˌkarðʏrɪn au ˈθiŋkˌvœtlʏm]) was created in 1930 to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the Alþing. The park was later expanded to protect the natural features in the surrounding area. In 2004, it was named a World Heritage Site.

Toponymy

The name Þingvellir comes from the Old Norse word Þingvǫllr, which means "assembly fields." The word "þing" refers to a meeting or gathering, and "vǫllr" means field. This is similar to the English words "thing" and "weald," which come from the same Old Norse and Anglo-Saxon roots. The place is named after Alþing, which was Iceland's national parliament. Alþing was first held at Þingvellir in 930 and met there until 1798. A "thing" was a type of meeting used for making decisions in Germanic societies, and this tradition still exists in some form in Northern Europe today.

Although the name Þingvellir is plural, the older form Þingvǫllr is singular. The modern singular form Þingvöllur is still used today.

The name is often written in English as Thingvellir. It may also appear as Tingvellir, Thingvalla, or Tingvalla in other languages. Sometimes it is spelled Pingvellir, but the letter "p" does not match the Old Norse letter "þ" (thorn), which sounds like the "th" in "thirst."

Other places with similar names include Dingwall and Tingwall in Scotland, Thingwall in England, Tynwald on the Isle of Man, Dinklage in Germany, and Tingvoll in Norway. These names share the same root and meaning.

History

Þingvellir became a national park because of a law passed in 1928 to protect the area where Iceland’s parliament once met. This made Þingvellir the first national park in Iceland. The park was declared a protected place for all Icelanders, owned forever by the nation and managed by the parliament, never to be sold or used as collateral.

According to the Book of Settlements (Landnámabók), Iceland was first settled in 874 when a Norwegian leader named Ingólfr Arnarson became the first permanent settler on the island. Over the next few centuries, people from Norse and Celtic backgrounds settled in Iceland. At first, small local meetings were held, but as the population grew, people needed a larger gathering place. The descendants of Ingólfr, who controlled southwest Iceland, became the most powerful family in the country. Other leaders wanted a larger assembly to balance their influence.

Grímur Geitskör was chosen to find support and a suitable location for the assembly. Around the same time, the owner of Bláskógar (now known as Þingvellir) was found guilty of murder. His land was taken and declared public. It was used for the assembly, temporary homes, and for grazing horses and gathering firewood. Þingvellir was chosen because it was easily accessible to the most populated areas of the country. The farthest a chieftain (called a goði) had to travel to attend the assembly was 17 days from the eastern part of Iceland, where mountains and glaciers made the journey difficult.

The founding of the Icelandic parliament, the Alþingi, is considered the beginning of Iceland as a nation. The first meeting of the Alþingi in 930 helped create a shared culture and national identity. Þingvellir played a key role in Iceland’s history, and its events closely followed the history of the Icelandic Commonwealth.

From 930 until 1271, the Alþingi at Þingvellir was Iceland’s highest lawmaking and judicial body. The Lögberg (Law Rock) was the center of the Alþingi and a natural place for speeches. A leader called the Lawspeaker was elected for three years and presided over the assembly. Before laws were written down, the Lawspeaker had to recite them from memory each summer. Important events, like the start and end of the assembly, were announced at the Lögberg. Anyone at the assembly could speak about important issues from the Lögberg.

The Law Council acted as both the parliament and the highest court. Laws were passed and legal decisions were made there. The Law Council also chose members of the Fifth Court (a type of higher court), the Lawspeaker, and helped elect the bishop. Unlike the Alþingi, the Law Council was a closed group where only certain people, like chieftains (goði) and their representatives, had full rights. However, everyone at the Alþingi could watch and listen to the Law Council work.

Until the 15th century, the Law Council met at Neðri-Vellir on the east side of the Öxará River. When the river changed course around 1500, the Law Council moved to an island in the river. In 1594, the Law Council was moved to the base of the ancient Lögberg, where it stayed until the Alþingi was moved in 1798.

The Alþingi was Iceland’s main lawmaking and judicial body during the Commonwealth, until 1271. Executive power, or the ability to make decisions, belonged to the chieftains and individuals involved in legal cases. This system worked well as long as power was balanced, but problems arose when the balance was broken.

In the final years of the Commonwealth, conflicts between chieftain families led to Iceland being ruled by Norway. Executive power grew stronger under this new rule, while the Alþingi still held some legal authority. Over time, this authority was taken over by Norwegian and later Danish rulers. In 1662, the King of Denmark became the absolute ruler of Iceland.

Þingvellir was the heart of Icelandic culture. During the Commonwealth, thousands of people from across Iceland traveled to Þingvellir each year. They built temporary homes with walls made of turf and rock and roofs made of homespun cloth. These homes were used for the two-week assembly. The only permanent buildings were a farm and, later, two churches.

While the main purpose of the assembly was to make laws, people also gathered for other reasons. Merchants, blacksmiths, and craftsmen sold goods and services. Performers entertained, and brewers made drinks for the assembly. People shared news, played games, and attended feasts. Young people and important leaders met to discuss plans. Workers and travelers also visited. Þingvellir became a place where people from all walks of life came together, helping shape Iceland’s language and literature, which remain important today.

In the 19th century, Þingvellir became a symbol of Icelandic nationalism. Icelandic political scientist Birgir Hermannsson said, “Þingvellir can be compared to a church or building that serves as a pilgrimage site and a place for national ceremonies.”

Bjarni Benediktsson, Iceland’s prime minister, died in a fire at a government summer house in Þingvellir on July 10, 1970. His wife and grandson also died in the fire.

Geology

Þingvellir is famous for its unique tectonic and volcanic features in a rift valley. The movement of the North American and Eurasian Plates can be clearly seen in the cracks and faults across the area. The largest of these, Almannagjá, is a large canyon. This movement also causes earthquakes that can be felt or measured in the region.

Some of the rifts contain clear water. One, Nikulásargjá, was crossed by a bridge during the visit of King Frederik VIII of Denmark in 1907. Visitors began throwing coins into the fissure from the bridge, a tradition inspired by European legends. Over time, the bottom of the rift has filled with shiny coins, and the area is now called Peningagjá, or "coin fissure."

Þingvellir is located on the northern shore of Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest natural lake. The river Öxará flows through the national park and creates a waterfall at Almannagjá, called Öxarárfoss. On the lake’s northern shore, the Silfra fissure is a popular place for diving and snorkeling.

Þingvellir was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its cultural importance. It may also qualify for recognition based on geological features in the future, as there are ongoing discussions about a "serial transboundary nomination" for the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which could include other sites in the Atlantic, such as Pico Island.

Along with the waterfall Gullfoss and the geysers of Haukadalur, Þingvellir is part of a group of Iceland’s most famous attractions, known as the Golden Circle.

Art

Þingvellir has inspired many Icelandic artists to paint because of its natural beauty. Painters such as Johannes Sveinsson Kjarval and Ásgrímur Jónsson have created artwork featuring this location. The National Gallery of Iceland holds more than 150 paintings by Ásgrímur Jónsson that show Þingvellir. Artists found Þingvellir appealing not only for its scenery but also because it is near Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, making it cheaper to visit.

Tourism

Þingvellir National Park is visited by many tourists and is one of the three main attractions along the Golden Circle. A visitor center is located there, where people can learn about the history and natural features of Þingvellir. An information center is also near the camping areas. There are hiking trails, such as the Execution Trail and the nearby Leggjabrjótur [ˈlɛcːaˌprjouːtʏr̥]. Scuba diving has become a popular activity at Silfra Lake because the movement of tectonic plates has made the lake wide enough for divers to enjoy very clear water.

Related places

• Gulating, an early Norwegian legislative assembly and a current law court in western Norway.
• Jamtamót, the historical legislative assembly of Jämtland.
• Løgting, the parliament of the Faroe Islands, and Tinganes, the location of the Faroese government.
• Tynwald, the legislature of the Isle of Man. Tynwald has a similar name and meaning to Þingvellir.

• Dingwall, a royal town in the Scottish Highlands.
• Thingwall, a village in Wirral, England.
• Tingwall, a parish in Shetland.
• Tingwall, a small village and harbor in Orkney.
• Tingvoll Municipality, a local government area in Norway.
• Thingvalla Township in North Dakota, one of the state’s earliest Icelandic settlements, was named after Þingvellir.

• Gough and Inaccessible Islands in the South Atlantic.
• Pico Island in the Azores.

Related things

The Thingvalla Line was a Danish shipping company that operated from 1879 to 1898. It was named after Þingvellir. At its busiest time, the company had ten ships in its fleet. One of these ships was called the S/S Thingvalla, which was launched in 1873. The company also operated four other ships with names from Iceland: the S/S Geiser, the S/S Island, and two ships named the S/S Hekla.