Alþing, the Icelandic Parliament, was established in Þingvellir in 930 and conducted sessions there until 1798. It became the first national park of Iceland in 1928 and is a key stop on the Golden Circle, offering a scenic view from the visitor center at Haki.
Since 1881, the parliament has been situated in Alþingishúsið in Reykjavík.
Þingvellir is presently a national park located in the Bláskógabyggð municipality in southwestern Iceland, approximately 40 km (25 miles) northeast of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland.
Not only is Þingvellir a site of great historical and cultural importance, but it also holds geological significance. It stands as one of Iceland’s most popular tourist destinations, situated in a rift valley that signifies the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. To the south lies Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.
Established in 1930 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Althing, Þingvellir National Park was later expanded to safeguard the diverse natural phenomena in the surrounding area. In 2004, it was designated as a World Heritage Site.