One of Iceland’s active rift zones, which separate the North American plate form the Eurasian plate, lies roughly 30 km east of Reyjavik. The Pthingvellir National Park is part of the Hengil fissure system. Normal faulting created by tensional forces has created a large broad valley within the system that is the site of the first parliament in Europe. The Althingi was established in 930 and still operates as Iceland’s governing body. Our walk through the fissures reveals several successive lava flows. Classic columnar jointing dominates the walls of our journey through geologic history.
