Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Þingvallavatn

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Primary outflows
  
Sog

Surface area
  
84 km (32 sq mi)

Residence time
  
11 months

Area
  
84 km²

Outflow location
  
Sog

Max. depth
  
114 m (374 ft)

Basin countries
  
Iceland

Average depth
  
34 m (112 ft)

Islands
  
Sandey

Mean depth
  
34 m

Location
  
Þingvellir National Park

Water volume
  
2.856 km3 (0.685 cu mi)

Þingvallavatn httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons77

Dry fly fishing lake ingvallavatn thingvallavatn


Þingvallavatn, anglicised as Thingvallavatn, is a rift valley lake in southwestern Iceland. With a surface of 84 km² it is the largest natural lake in Iceland. Its greatest depth is 114 m. At the northern shore of the lake, at Þingvellir (after which the lake is named), the Alþingi, the national parliament, was founded in the year 930, and held its sessions there until 1799 and still as of today the name Alþingi Íslendinga is carried by the parliament of Iceland.

Contents

Map of %C3%9Eingvallavatn, Iceland

The lake lies partially within Þingvellir National Park. The volcanic origin of the islands in the lake is clearly visible. The cracks and faults around it, of which the Almannagjá ravine is the largest, is where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. Silfra fissure is a popular scuba and snorkeling site. The only outflow from lake Þingvallavatn is the river Sog.

One of the noted features of the lake is the presence of four morphs of the Arctic charr.

ingvallavatn lake iceland 2014


References

Þingvallavatn Wikipedia