"Lake Þingvallavatn" Top 5 Page for this destination Þingvellir Things to Do Tip by acemj

Lake Þingvallavatn is a unique biological ecosystem that was created by a retreating glacier around 12,000 years ago. As the glacier retreated, the remaining water filled the valley here in Þingvellir. Volcanic activity underneath the glacier caused water to drain through the lava making the water here very rich in minerals. It is extremely deep in parts and extremely clear and it struck me as bizarre when our guide mentioned that this was one of the world's premiere places for diving! Who would have thought that divers from around the world would come to Iceland. Apparently, it's the incredible clarity of the water that is the main draw. It's even said that divers with a fear of heights should stay away since the combination of crystal clear water and incredible depths can make you feel like you're swimming in a bottomless pit!

Brown trout, Arctic charr and the three-spine stickleback can be found in the lake and scientists study these fish for the evolutionary progress. Apparently the fish became trapped in the lake when the earth rose around the water here and over the years they have adapted to the unique environment in and around the lake.