Iceland's Midnight Sun

Located in southwestern Iceland, the capital and largest city of Iceland is said to be the location of the first permanent settlement. It is believed that the city was established around AD 870. Until the 18th century, there was no urban development, but the city was founded in 1786 as an official trading town and grew steadily over the next decades. Soon Reykjavík became the national center of commerce, population, and governmental activities. The city is rated among the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world.

The Golden Circle is the most popular tourist route from Reykjavík in South Iceland. Two main stops on the route are Thingvellir National Park and Gullfoss Waterfall (Golden Falls). The route covers about 300 kilometers looping from Reykjavík into central Iceland and back.

Around 930, the Althing general assembly was established in Thingvellir. A law passed in 1928 protecting the area, which shall remain the property of the Icelandic nation under the preservation of the Althing. Thingvellir National Park was officially founded in 1930, marking the 1,000th anniversary of the Althing. In 2004, the park became a World Heritage Site. Throughout the park, travelers can visit the many hiking trails.

Visit the Lava Exhibition Center to learn about Iceland’s historic eruptions and current lava flows that make Iceland a showcase of volcanic activity.

The picturesque village of Vík is the southernmost village in Iceland, and despite its small size, it is the largest settlement around and an important staging post. Vík's black sand beaches are some of the wettest places in Iceland. The cliffs of the beaches are home to many beautiful seabirds, most notably, the colorful puffins. The village lies directly beneath the Myrdalsjokull glacier, which sits atop the Katla volcano.

A majestic glacial lake in southeast Iceland, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is on the edge of Vatnajökull National Park. The lagoon is situated at the head of the Breioamerkurjokull glacier. It developed into a lake after the glacier started receding from the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake has grown since then at varying rates because of the melting glaciers. Today it is considered one of the natural wonders of Iceland and a major attraction for tourists. Several animals including various fish, seals and seabirds can be seen in or by the lagoon.