Icelandic Jamboree 2024
Day 6 PreTour Golden Circle 

Date: July 12 , 2024

Day 6 / Jamboree Day 1
Þingvellir National Park

Check in was in the afternoon, but it was felt that the group, or at least an advanced party should check in early to make sure we had a site and all the equipment needed for a successful event.  After discussing options, we sent two adult leaders to check in to Jamboree while the rest of our team went to Þingvellir National Park.

Þingvellir National Park
Thingvellir National Park

Our crew started at Parking Lot 5 and traveled north to Upplýsingamiðstöðin Þingvöllum (Information Center and Giftshop), hitting Lögberg (Law Rock), Öxarárfoss (waterfall) and Langistígur (The Walk of Death) along the the way.

This 6-mile hike took us though what is thought of as the Heart of Iceland.  It has immense historical significance to Iceland and is a unique rift valley where the tectonic plates can be seen separating North America and Europe. 

Lögberg (Law Rock)

Alþingi is the first supreme National Parliament of Iceland and one of the oldest surviving parliaments in the world.  It was founded in Þingvellir in 930 at Lögberg.  The exact location of Lögberg due to the chaning geography of the rift valley over the past 1000 years. 

At Lögberg, the Lögsögumaður (Law Speaker) sat as as the presiding official of the assembly of the Alþingi.  Speeches and announcements were made from Lögberg and anyone could make an argument from this spot.  

Öxarárfoss 

Yet another waterfall in Iceland.  It is named after the river which feeds it, Öxará.  It is one of the main attraction of Þingvellir.

Langistígur aka The Walk of Death or Execution Trail

Early Icelandic law was rather harsh.  Grágás (Grey Goose Law) was used until around 1262.  This was replaced by Járnsíða, a Norwegian law-code composed by Magnus VI of Norway for Iceland.  In 1281, Jónsbók by Jón Einarsson became the law of the the land.  These laws are harsh compared to more modern laws and became harsher with the passing of Stóridómur following the adaptation of Lutheranism.  Laws were enacted to reduce moral licentiousness and sexual lasciviousness in the country resulting in an increase of capital punishment.

Men were beheaded and hanged while women were drowned or burned to death nearby.