The best cycling routes around Þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum

Álafoss is a waterfall on the Varmá River in Mosfellsbær in the capital region of Iceland. In 1896, a hydroelectric wool factory was named after this waterfall. Today, only a wool and knitwear shop remains here. Since April 2013,[1] the waterfall and its small 14,000 m² surrounding area have been protected. Downstream of the waterfall, a former swimming pool has been converted into the Sundlaugin (Icelandic: The Swimming Pool) recording studio, where the band Sigur Rós recorded, among other things, their album "( )", the fifth track of which is titled "Álafoss".

It's really busy with groups of people snorkeling in unison - it spoils the otherwise beautiful view of the crystal-clear water a bit, but it's entertaining.

Unfortunately the church was closed!

Located in the Þingvellir National Park, Þingvallakirkja is one of the oldest churches in the country. The current wooden structure dates from 185921, but the original church was consecrated in the 11th century. Inside are several bells from earlier churches, a wooden pulpit from the 17th century and a painted altarpiece from 1834. The cemetery behind the church is the final resting place of the independence era poets Jónas Hallgrímsson and Einar Benediktsson. The church is usually closed unless there are staff around.

Located in the Þingvellir National Park, Flosagjá is an impressive gorge that is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This gorge, which contains crystal clear water that maintains a constant temperature of 3-4°C all year round, is a remarkable natural wonder. Flosagjá is about 730 meters long and reaches a depth of about 25 meters. It is named after Flosi Þórðarson, an important character in the Brennu-Njáls saga, who is said to have jumped the gorge to escape his enemies.

'Peningagjá' is a term from Icelandic and can be split into two parts: 'peninga' and 'gjá'. 'Peninga' means 'coin' and 'gjá' means 'crack' or 'gorge'. So, 'Peningagjá' can be translated as 'Cracked Coin'. This name comes from the tradition where visitors throw coins into the clear waters of the crevice in the hope of luck and fortune. It is important to note that authorities have now decided to stop this practice to preserve nature.

Here you have one foot in Europe and the other in America... at least as far as the continental plates are concerned

It's not just any gap. It is a window into another world, into the deep gap between two continents. Here, where the North American and Eurasian plates are constantly drifting apart, there is a sight that makes every hiker's heart beat faster. Every year this gap grows by a few millimeters, a constant dance of the earth, shaped by the forces of nature. But what makes the Silfra fissure so special is not just its geological significance, but the water that fills it. This water has traveled from the Langjökull glacier to this point over decades, sometimes even a century. It made its way through porous lava rock, being filtered and purified until it came to rest in the Silfra fissure with unparalleled clarity. An underwater visibility of over 100 meters testifies to this purity. It is said to be the clearest water in the world and if you want, you can take a sip of it during a dive or snorkeling adventure and taste Iceland's untouched nature firsthand. Despite the cold - the water is constantly between 2°C and 4°C - there are brave divers and snorkelers here who want to experience the privilege of swimming between two continental plates. You glide through the water, surrounded by bizarre lava field formations and cave systems that extend into the basalt walls of the fissure. Always aware that you are in a place that is constantly moving, where the earth is reshaping itself, where tunnels and caves are emerging and where with every earthquake a new chapter is written in the history of this impressive place.