Golden Circle.

I am coming up to the end of my coverage of Iceland roadtrip. One of the last places we had to see was "Golden Circle" - area in south-west part of Iceland, not so far from Reykjavik, consisted of the national park Þingvellir, the waterfall Gullfoss (meaning "golden falls"), and geysers. Our first stop was Þingvellir - the place where Icelandic nation and its politics were born. Settlers gathered there for the first time in history in 930, and continued their meetings fro next 1000 years. They created a parliament called Alþingi where people discussed and decided about most important issues. They usually sat for 6 weeks in June and July, when due to good weather Þingvellir was easy to reach from most parts of the country. 

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge goes through whole Iceland. It separates the Eurasian Plate and North American Plate and the national park Þingvellir is a perfect place to experience it oneself. 

Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake of Iceland. 

This hairband was absolutely cute, but its price was unfair, like everything in Iceland ;) 

When we left the national park, soon we saw on our way the next spot - the geothermally active valley of Haukadalur, which is famous of geysers. The Great Geysir gave its name to the rest of world's spouting hot springs. It was very active until 1915, it could hurl boiling water even up to 70 metres in the air. Then it became inactive and people tried to wake it by digging tunnels and pouring soap inside. But only an earthquauke in 2000 caused its continuation of burst. Now it is hibernated again, but it can change any time soon.

Strokkur (Icelandic word of "churn") has taken place of The Great Geysir and now it is the most photographed geyser of Iceland. It explodes about every 10 minutes and can throw water up to 40 meters high. 

Strokkur at rest.

Inactive, but not dead - The Great Geysir. 

Soil was bubbling under our feet. We had to be careful, because in some places it was hot enough to melt our shoes' soles. 

A souvenir shop and its weird products for sale...



... Like this can full of fresh air. It is a great idea - in Poland we could sell smog from Cracow! ;]

Underwear pants are still trendy in Iceland ;) As well as natural fur, like that gilet made of polar fox :( The price was 400 pounds, but is so sad they use fur to made clothes. 

Finally we reached the last must-see of Golden Circle - Gullfoss waterfall, one of the most popular tourists attractions in whole Iceland. It is really beautiful place and also very wet - to take some good picutres usually you have to go under a cloud of steam which will leave you soaked within seconds ;) But the view is amazing, steam goes up constantly making whole observation really special.