MANCAMONDO

Northern Western
Europe

Iceland

The Golden Circle

According to the ancient manuscript Landnamabok,
the settlement of Iceland began in 874 AD when the Norwegian
chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson became the first permanent settler on the island.

In the following centuries, Norwegians, and to a lesser extent other Scandinavians,
emigrated to Iceland, bringing with them thralls (i.e., slaves or serfs) of Gaelic origin.

The Golden Circle (Icelandic: Gullni hringurinn) is a tourist route in southern Iceland,
covering about 300 kilometres looping from Reykjavik into the southern uplands of Iceland and back.

Geologically, Iceland is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a ridge along
which the oceanic crust spreads and forms new oceanic crust.

Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate
climate, despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle.
The interior consists of a plateau characterised by sand
and lava fields, mountains, and glaciers, and many
glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands.

Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate, despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle.

Strokkur (Icelandic for "churn") is a very reliable fountain geyser located in the GEYSIR geothermal
area beside the Hvita River in Iceland in the southwest part of the country, east of Reykjavik.

It is one of Iceland's most famous geysers, erupting once every 6-10 minutes.

Its usual height is 15-20 metres, although it can sometimes erupt up to 40 metres high.

Strokkur was first mentioned in 1789, after an earthquake helped to unblock the conduit of the geyser.

Its activity fluctuated throughout the 19th century; in 1815 its
height was estimated to have been as much as 60 metres (200 ft).

It continued to erupt until the turn of the 20th century, until another earthquake blocked the conduit again.

Iceland Golden Circle, Haukadalur, Strokkur 30.05.2019.

Strokkur belongs to the Haukadalur valley area, where various other geothermal feature such as
mud pools, fumaroles and other geysers are located around it, such as the famous Geysir geyser.

Iceland Golden Circle, Haukadalur valley, geothermal GEYSIR area 30.05.2019.

Iceland Golden Circle, Haukadalur valley, geothermal GEYSIR area 30.05.2019.V

Iceland Golden Circle, Haukadalur valley, geothermal GEYSIR area 30.05.2019.

Iceland Golden Circle, Haukadalur, Gullfoss 30.05.2019.

Gullfoss (Golden Falls) is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvita river in southwest Iceland.

The wide Hvita river flows southward, and about a kilometre above the falls it turns sharply to the right and flows down
into a wide curved three-step "staircase" and then abruptly plunges in two stages (11 metres and 21 metres) into a crevice 32 metres deep.

The crevice, about 20 metres wide and 2.5 kilometres in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river.

The average amount of water running down the waterfall is 140 cubic metres per second in the summer and 80 cubic metres per second in the winter.

Iceland Golden Circle, Haukadalur, Gullfoss 30.05.2019.

Iceland Golden Circle, Haukadalur, Thingvellir National Park 30.05.2019.

Thingvellir, is a national park in the municipality of Blaskogabyggo in southwestern Iceland, about 40 km northeast of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik.

Thingvellir is a site of historical, cultural, and geological significance, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland.

The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Thingvellir is associated with the Althing, the national parliament of Iceland, which was established at the site in 930 AD. Sessions were held at the location until 1798.

Thingvellir National Park was founded in 1930, marking the 1000th anniversary of the Althing.

To its south lies Thingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.

Iceland Golden Circle, Haukadalur, Thingvellir National Park 30.05.2019.

The park was later expanded to protect the diverse and natural phenomena in the surrounding area, and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2004.

Iceland Golden Circle, Haukadalur, Thingvellir National Park 30.05.2019.