Thingvellir National Park

Spread out over a scenic rift valley created by the separation of two tectonic plates and riddled with unusual geologic features, Thingvellir National Park marks the site of the first open-air parliament in Iceland. It also serves as the historical backdrop for the transformation of seafaring Vikings into some of the most isolated and hardy farmers in the world. Historian Justin M. Jacobs explores the Vikings’ migrations, their strategies for survival on an impoverished and volatile island, and the innovative political institutions they developed to prevent large-scale violence in Iceland.