The Golden Circle Tour - Iceland's Most Popular Sights
Geysir - Gullfoss Falls - Thingvellir National Park
Click to read more about The Golden Circle route in Iceland
The Golden Circle route in Iceland
A map of the Golden Circle route
The classic Golden Circle tour will take you to three of Iceland’s most popular sights: Gullfoss, Geysir and the National Park Thingvellir. There are also many more interesting places to stop at on the way, like the Geothermal Exhibition at Hellisheidi Power Plant, Faxi waterfalls and volcanic crater Kerid, for instance. The route covers approximately 300 kilomteres (190 miles), and loops from the capital of Reykjavík to the center of the country and back.
Þingvellir
Thingvellir is a national park is a site of much historical, natural and cultural importance in Iceland. The national park was founded in 1930, but the area itself has a far longer history than that, going back to the first settlers in Iceland. The Icelandic Parliament was established there in the year 930. Read more about Thingvellir hereGeysir geothermal area
The Geysir geothermal field is located at the northern edge of the southern lowlands in Iceland, at an altitude of 105-120 m above sea level. The hot springs are located to the east of a little mountain called Laugafell. The most famous one, Geysir, does not spout anymore, but the geyser Strokkur is alive and well, spouting every 5-10 minutes. Read more about Geysir here
Gullfoss waterfall
Gullfoss is undoubtedly the most famous waterfall in Iceland. It falls in the river Hvítá. Its power is immense and one can stand very close to it and feel the mist of glacial water fall. The waterfall cascades down two huge steps that are 11 and 22 meters deep, into a deep gorge. Gullfoss is the first waterfall in Iceland to be preserved, thanks to Sigríður Tómasdóttir, a local girl who fought the authorities, who wanted to to build the first hydro power plant by the falls and ruin its beauty.
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