The Golden Circle - Iceland’s Very Own Gold

Magazine The Golden Circle - Iceland’s Very Own Gold

For tourists looking for a bit of adventure and the opportunity to see some of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders, the Golden Circle route found in South Iceland is the perfect trip to make. The route covers about 300 km, taking its sightseers on a loop from Reykjavik into central Iceland and back, with three primary stops.

One stop is made at Þingvellir National Park (alos written as Thingvellir), founded in 1930 to protect the remains of the ancient parliament site and was later expanded to protect natural phenomena in the surrounding area, including the site of a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland.

         A second stop is made at Iceland’s own “golden falls,” Gullfoss. Located in the canyon of the Hvítá River in southwest Iceland, this enormous waterfall is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. Though it was once speculated to use the falls to generate electricity, it is now protected by the State of Iceland to remain untouched and unused forever.

         The third stop is the geothermal active valley of Haukadalur, which contains the famous geysers Geysir and Strokkur. Geysir, derived from the Icelandic verb geysa, the verb from Old Norse, “to gush,” only erupts 4 to 5 times a day. On the other hand, Strokkur, which is Icelandic for “churn,” is reliable and erupts every 5 to 10 minutes. Geysir has been active for approximately 10,000 years, the oldest accounts of hot springs at Haukadalur dating back to 1294, making it one of Iceland’s most ancient treasures and a must see.

         Other stops along the way include Kerið volcano crater, Hveragerði greenhouse village, Skálholt church, and the Nesjavellir geothermal power plant. All in all, the Golden Circle is the perfect way to experience Iceland’s untouched natural wonders and is an experience only found in Iceland. The Golden Circle promises not to disappoint, but to dazzle and awe.

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