Exploring Iceland’s Spectacular National Parks

A volcanic island in the middle of the North Atlantic, about halfway between Scotland and Greenland, Iceland is one of the world’s most spectacular and extraordinary countries. Unique natural attractions, remarkable geologic formations and epic coasts are found all over the island. You could easily spend a month exploring, but if your time is limited, I recommend you start with the three national parks in Iceland.

National Parks in Iceland – Icelandic Nature at Its Best

To some of you, it may come as a surprise that Iceland has only three national parks. Almost the whole country could qualify as a national park, after all. Pristine landscapes, undeveloped plains, deep gorges, remote beaches,… are what you can expect when driving around.

On the other hand, just because there’s such abundant beauty in Iceland, that means that the three national parks in Iceland are absolutely sensational. Specifically, all three were designated because of their historic and cultural importance, outstanding landscapes and/or geology.

Thingvellir National Park

The most accessible of the Iceland national parks, Thingvellir National Park lies about 40 minutes by car from Reykjavik. It is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, an area characterized by a wide variety of features.

Thingvellir is where the Althing, the Icelandic national parliament and the oldest in the world, was established in 930. Annual meetings were held at the site up until 1798, attracting leaders from around the country who came to discuss issues and vote on new laws and rules.

Besides this historic significance, the park also boasts unique geological features. It lies on the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is the very boundary between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. Here, you can literally walk between two continent—a gorge hike that’s super-popular. Add a few gorgeous waterfalls and Iceland’s largest lake to this mix and you know why Thingvellir National Park was recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO in 2004.

Snæfellsjökull National Park

Situated at the tip of a peninsula in the far west of the Iceland, Snæfellsjökull National Park is arguably the most varied of all three national parks in Iceland. Even though the other two don’t exactly lack any variety, this one has everything from glaciers to lava plains, from sea cliffs covering with colonies of birds to a stratovolcano. Some people refer to this park as “Iceland in a nutshell.”

This is Iceland’s only coastal national park, protecting an area of huge ecological, natural and cultural importance. Home to many bird species, this is also a historic fishing area. The best example of this is the town of Dritvík, dating from the 13^th century when the fishing industry first started booming in the region.

There are numerous attractions in this park, ranging from caves, canyons and craters to rock formations, coastal cliffs and black sand beaches. Just outside the park, you’ll find the mountain Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss, perhaps the most photographed waterfall in Iceland.

Vatnajökull National Park

Encompassing no less than 5,387 square miles (13,952 km²), Vatnajökull National Park is by far the largest of the three national parks in Iceland. In fact, the park is the second largest in Europe. Only Yugyd Va National Park in Russia is larger.

The entire Vatnajökull glacier lies within the park. Its name meaning “Water Glacier”, it is the largest one in Europe outside the Arctic. This majestic glacier takes up an astonishing 8% of Iceland’s surface area. The glacier is the centerpiece and premier attraction of the park, a mass of ice of mind-boggling proportions. Its thickness ranges between 1,300 feet (400 meters) and 1,900 feet (600 meters). This massive area is nothing less than a landscape of its own. There are mountains, valleys, canyons and plateaus.

Vatnajökull National Park also comprises a number of glacial rivers, thundering waterfalls, several volcanoes and the highest mountain in Iceland. The main attraction, however, is the ice caves that form in the glacier when ice melts in spring. If you’re looking for things to do in Iceland, cave tours on the Vatnajökull glacier are among the greatest activities you can possibly partake in.

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