The Golden Circle is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland, covering about 300 km looping from Reykjavík into central Iceland and back. The tree primary stops on the route are the national park Þingvellir, the waterfall Gullfoss and the geothermal filed the Great Geysir Area, all of which are famous in their own right, but can easily be enjoyed in the course of one day, making fo
r an ideal day tour. Other interesting stop on the route is Kerið, a volcanic carter lake located beside Route 35 leading to Geysir. The crater Kerið was formed about 6,500 years ago and lies at the northern end of a row of craters known as Tjarnarhólar. It is oval, about 270 m long, 170 m wide and 55 m deep: the depth of the water at the bottom varies between 7 and 14 m. According to an old tradition, a rise in the water level here is accompanied by a corresponding fall in the pond on Búrfell in Grímsnes and vice versa. Kerið lies in the Iceland´s Western Volcanic Zone, which runs through the Reykjanes peninsula and the glacier Langjökull. Traces of volcanism are not very obvious, since most of the eruption sites are low-lying and many of the craters are hidden by vegetation, but three craters in the Grímsnes area are clearly discernable and well-known features: Kerið, Seyðishólar and Kerhóll. http://kerid.is/information/
Þingvellir became a national park as a result of legislation passed in 1928 to protect the remains of the parliament site by creating the first national park in Iceland. At Þingvellir - literally "Parliament Plains" - the Alþing general assembly was established around 930 and continued to convene there until 1798. Major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at Þingvellir and therefore the place is held in high esteem by all Icelanders. Today Þingvellir is a protected national shrine and was officially added to UNESCO World Heritage Site in Agust 2004. In the last few decades, research has made it clear that Þingvellir is a natural wonder on a international scale, with the geologic history and the biosystem of Lake Þingvallavatn forming a unique entity, a magnificent showcase. Being able to witness the evolution and formation of new species in a place like Lake Þingvallavatn is of immense value. The Þingvellir area is part of a fissure zone running through Iceland, being situated on the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The faults and fissures of the area make evident the rifting of the earth's crust. http://www.thingvellir.is/english.aspx
Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall) is an iconic waterfall of Iceland offering a spectacular view of the forces and beauty of untouched nature. Gullfoss is located on the Hvítá (White) river which is fed by Iceland´s second biggest glacier, the Langjökull. The water plummets down 32 meters in two stages into a rugged canyon which walls reach up to 70 meters in height. On a sunny day shimmering rainbow can be seen over the falls. http://www.gullfoss.is/about-gullfoss/
The geothermal field in Haukadalur is a natural wonder of hot springs and boiling mud pools. The word „geysir“ is an international word which was adopted from the Icelandic Geysir and its eruptions. The geothermal area is thousands of years old. The great Geysir and the geysir area was reignited in a big earthquake in Southern Iceland in the year 1294. Since then mentioned in the Icelandic Sagas, and great explorations tour books to Iceland. Active geysers are mainly Strokkur, the old Geysir dose not erupt very often and dose not have the former power it had. Other active geysers are Fata, Óþerrishola, Blesi and a few others. In all around 80 different mud pots, steam vents, boiling hot springs and running hot streams and geysers are in the area. In the area there are also over 125 different plants and over 20 types of moss.
