Þingvallavatn

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Þingvallavatn
Þingvallavatn - Fissures at the lake
Fissures at the lake
Location Þingvellir National Park
Coordinates 64°11′N 21°09′WCoordinates: 64°11′N 21°09′W
Primary outflows Sog
Basin countries Iceland
Surface area 84 km²
Max. depth 114 m
Islands Sandey

Þingvallavatn is a lake in the south-west of Iceland. With a surface of 84 km² it is the largest (natural) lake of the island. Its greatest depth is 114 m. At the northern shore of the lake the parliament of Iceland, Alþing, was founded in 930.

The lake is part of the Þingvellir National Park. The volcanic origin of the islands in the lake is clearly visible. The fissures around it - the famous Almannagjá is the biggest of them - indicate that here the tectonic plates of Europe and The Americas are in a conflict. The only outflow from lake Thingvallavatn is the river Sog.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links