Iconic Iceland: Chasing the Northern Lights

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.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland is Gullfoss, an incredible waterfall located in the canyon of Hvita river in southwest Iceland. As one first approaches the falls, the crevice is obscured from view, so that it appears that a mighty river magically vanishes into the earth. The falls offer a spectacular view of the forces and beauty of the untouched nature in Iceland. On a sunny day, a rainbow can be seen over the falls. In 1907, Gullfoss was owned by a local farmer, who was approached by an Englishman who wanted to buy it to produce electricity. Although the farmer declined the Englishman’s generous offer, he leased it to him. After the farmer’s passing, his daughter went to great lengths to save Gullfoss to stop construction that would damage it. She is often called Iceland’s first environmentalist. In 1979, Gullfoss was designated as a nature preserve and permanently protected for the public to enjoy.

Snæfellsnes Peninsula is situated in western Iceland and has been named "Iceland in Miniature" because many national sights can be found in the area, including the Snæfellsjökull volcano. The bodies of water surrounding the peninsula include the Atlantic Ocean, Faxafloi Bay, and Breiðafjörður. The Snæfellsnes Peninsula is known for its natural beauty where mountains, lava fields, and water can be seen all around.