Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park, about 40 kilometers northeast of Reykjavik, protects the site of the Althing, Iceland's ancient parliament, which convened there annually from 930 until 1798, along with the surrounding rift valley marking the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Covering about 9,270 hectares, the park contains the Logberg, or Law Rock, the focal point of the historic assemblies, the dramatic Almannagja canyon, and the Silfra fissure, a popular site for diving and snorkeling in clear glacial water, and it sits on the northern shore of Thingvallavatn, Iceland's largest natural lake. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 for its historical, cultural and geological significance.