Žingvellir is a site of historical, cultural, and geological importance and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland.
It is the site of a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
It is also home to Žingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.
Parliament or Alžingi was established at Žingvellir in 930 and remained there until 1798.
Žingvellir National Park was the first national park in Iceland.
It was founded in 1930 due to its historical importance, to protect the remains of the parliament site
It was later expanded to protect the special tectonic and volcanic environment of the rift valley.
The continental drift between the North American and Eurasian Plates can be clearly seen in the cracks or faults which traverse the region, the biggest one, Almannagjį, being a veritable canyon.
This also causes the often-measurable earthquakes in the area.