Golden Circle (Iceland)
Encyclopedia
The Golden Circle is a popular tourist route in South Iceland
, covering about 300 km looping from Reykjavík
into central Iceland and back.
The three primary stops on the route are the national park Þingvellir
, the waterfall
Gullfoss
(meaning "golden falls"), and the geothermally active valley of Haukadalur
, which contains the geysers Geysir
and Strokkur
.
Other stops include Kerið
volcano crater, Hveragerði
greenhouse village, Skálholt
church, and the Nesjavellir
geothermal power plant.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, covering about 300 km looping from Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
into central Iceland and back.
The three primary stops on the route are the national park Þingvellir
Þingvellir
|Thing]] Fields) is a place in Bláskógabyggð in southwestern Iceland, near the peninsula of Reykjanes and the Hengill volcanic area. Þingvellir is a site of historical, cultural, and geological importance and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. It is the site of a rift...
, the waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
Gullfoss
Gullfoss
Gullfoss is a waterfall located in the canyon of Hvítá river in southwest Iceland.Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. The wide Hvítá rushes southward...
(meaning "golden falls"), and the geothermally active valley of Haukadalur
Haukadalur
-Haukadalur, Golden Circle:This valley lies to the north of the Laugarvatn in the south of Iceland at .There are to be seen some of the most famous sights of the island: the geysers and other geothermal features which have developed on Laugarfjall rhyolitic dome. The biggest geysers of Haukadalur...
, which contains the geysers Geysir
Geysir
Geysir , sometimes known as The Great Geysir, was the first geyser described in a printed source and the first known to modern Europeans. The English word geyser derives from Geysir. The name Geysir itself is derived from the Icelandic verb geysa, "to gush", the verb from Old Norse...
and Strokkur
Strokkur
Strokkur is a fountain geyser in the geothermal area beside the Hvítá River in Iceland in the southwest part of the country, east of Reykjavik...
.
Other stops include Kerið
Kerið
Kerið is a volcanic crater lake located in the Grímsnes area in south Iceland, on the popular tourist route known as the Golden Circle...
volcano crater, Hveragerði
Hveragerði
Hveragerði is a town and municipality in the south of Iceland located 45 km to the east of Reykjavík on Iceland's main ringroad, Route 1.The river Varmá runs through the town. The population was 2,316 on 1 January 2011.-Overview:...
greenhouse village, Skálholt
Skálholt
Skálholt is an historical site situated in the south of Iceland at the river Hvítá.-History:Skálholt was, through eight centuries, one of the most important places in Iceland. From 1056 until 1785, it was one of Iceland's two episcopal sees, along with Hólar, making it a cultural and political...
church, and the Nesjavellir
Nesjavellir
The Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station is the second largest geothermal power station in Iceland. The facility is located above sea level in the southwestern part of the country, near Thingvellir and the Hengill Volcano....
geothermal power plant.