Iceland - VIKING MONUMENTS AND SITES / Þingvellir National Park

Þingvellir is a national park entirely in state ownership based on the Þingvellir National Park Act no. 47/2004. The World Heritage site includes the assembly site and consists of the old national park established in 1930. In 2004 the national park was enlarged from ca. 50 sqkm to ca. 240 sqkm and the extension, as well as Lake Þingvallavatn, provide the bufferzone for the World Heritage site. The core area is the Innermost Assembly Site, where the assembly representing the whole of Iceland, the Althing (Icelandic "Alþingi", meaning "general assembly") was held from around 930 to 1798. Þingvellir is remarkable as the only Germanic assembly site where remains of administrative structures such as Lögberg (e. Law Rock), Lögrétta (e. Law Council) and Biskupabúðir (e. Bishops' Booths) have been preserved. Remains of many manmade structures pertaining to the assembly and its functions dating from the 10th to 18th centuries can be found there. In its entirety, the area of remains at Þingvellir is also unique in that remains of a large part of the attendees' booths can still be seen on the surface and the overall layout of the assembly area can still be envisaged. Archaeological research has been carried out at Þingvellir. Researchers have considered the locations of places and events in saga literature, surveyed old sites, made maps, and published their findings. Cultural remains in the area are protected by the National Heritage Act no. 107/2001 and the Þingvellir National Park Act no. 47/2004.

Iceland - Torfajökull Volcanic System / Fjallabak Nature Reserve

The Torfajökull area is approximately 600 km2 rhyolite massif at an altitude of 600-1200 meters above sea level in the south central Icelandic highlands. It covers the Torfajökull volcanic system along with the southern tip of the Bárðarbunga volcanic system to the north. The landscape is spectacular, mountainous, screes are abundant and the effects of volcanic activity are highly dominant. Craters, lava and hyaloclastite characterise the northern part of the area, but light coloured rhyolite the Torfajökull caldera to the south. The high-temperature geothermal field associated with Torfajökull is the largest and most powerful in the country and the terrain inside the caldera is typified by immense geothermal activity. Fumaroles and hot springs are widespread and steam plume visible in many places. These conditions create different habitats for the biota that is diverse, especially when taking into account the high elevation. The conservation value of the area is indisputable and a part of the Torfajökull area, the Fjallabak Nature Reserve (446 km2), has been protected since 1979 and is a popular place for tourism and hiking.

Iceland - Þingvellir National Park

The Outstanding Universal Value of Þingvellir as a cultural landscape has already been confirmed by the inscription on the World Heritage List in 2004 under criteria III and VI. The Þingvellir area is also a natural wonder on a global scale, with the geologic history and the biota of Lake Þingvallavatn and its catchment area forming a unique entity, a magnificent showcase in geology and biology and an extraordinary ecosystem. The area is part of the world rift system which is normally a sub-oceanic feature. Being subaerial, Iceland is a rare exception of a mature oceanic rift system. This is caused by high volcanic production associated with an upwelling mantle plume beneath Iceland. Being able to witness the evolution and formation of new species of life in Lake Þingvallavatn - the diversification of the Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) into four different morphs, is of immense value, as is the recent discovery of two new species to science of blind „cave" animals, the subterranean amphipod crustaceans (Crymostygius thingvallensis and Crangonyx islandicus), inhabiting spring fed groundwater inlets in the catchment area.