 |
| Enormous Gulfoss Falls |
 |
| Cave-like rock formations at Þingvellir (Thingvellir) on the Eurasian Tectontic Plate. |
 |
| Water flows from the falls where the Vikings redirected the river through the cliffs at Þingvellir. |
 |
Visitors walk through the rift between the tectonic plates.
North America is on the left and Eurasia is to the right. |
 |
| A view of the rift while standing on top of the Eurasian Plate. |
The Golden Circle is the most popular and well-travelled excursion for good reason. It's highlights are monumental and grand. Gulfoss is at the junction of two rivers with two waterfalls. The ant-like dots on top of the cliff are tourists snapping photos, so you can see the scale of it all. We were covered with spray that rose well above the sides of the gorge.
Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is the historic site of the first parliament, the summer meetings of the Icelandic cheiftains and their entourages, where laws were reviewed and enacted through group consent. It is also one of the rift zones between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates that are moving apart at a rate of two centimetres a year. The North American cliff face has been pushed upwards in strangely shaped blocks of stone, while the Eurasian side is more eroded and covered with mosses and plants. It is easy to see why the Viking chieftains chose this area for their summer meetings.
I find the rock formations fascinating! I'm certain they will appear in my artwork in the future.
Stay tuned for more about the Strokkur Geysir, also on the Golden Circle tour route.
No comments:
Post a Comment