Since their inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009, the Dolomites have been able to establish with other Sites global connections for knowledge exchange, cultural dialogue, and the sharing of management practices, both at Cultural and Natural level. Opening up to the world and identifying the elements that distinguish or unite different social, economic, natural, and cultural contexts provides an extraordinary opportunity to look beyond local dynamics and reinforces the idea that education, science, and culture can build international relationships based on mutual understanding. In this issue of the newsletter, we explore the Cultural Heritage of the Thingvellir National Park, where the history of an ancient parliamentary assembly intertwines with Iceland’s extraordinary landscapes and geological features, particularly in the south-western part of the island. Answering our questions is the Park Director, Einar Ásgeir Sæmundsen.
Thingvellir National Park was included in the World Heritage List in 2004 for its cultural and symbolic value, as it bears exceptional testimony to the history of the open-air parliamentary assembly that took place there annually from the 10th to the 18th century. Could you please elaborate on the Outstanding Universal Value recognized by UNESCO?
Thingvellir National Park is nominated under criteria III and VI on the World Heritage list. Critieria III highlights the fact that at Thingvellir the best remaining archaeological and historical remains of the assembly set up by the earliest settlement in Iceland can be found.
The Alþingi (Althingi/Parliament) was an annual gathering for free men to come together and learn the law and settle their disputes first set up in the year 930 AD. The assembly that was set up at Thingvellir was the main assembly to gather in Iceland at the time even though local assemblies were found in many different regions in Iceland.
Similar assemblies were set up in the time of the Viking travels in the North – Atlantic and the site name Thingvellir is known in different versions at different sites across the North-Atlantic. But no other site is as well preserved or contains as much archaeology and written sources as Thingvellir in Iceland. T
he intangible values of Thingvellir are a key element in the interpretation of the site whereas the sites archaeological remains are partly hidden in the landscape. The intangible values that deepen the understanding of the site are the different descriptions from many Icelandic sagas detailing events that took place there, references from the earliest lawbooks, annals and folklore. All of these add to the mystery of the site and can leave different images and ideas in the minds of the visitors exploring the site.
Although it is a Cultural World Heritage Site, the Park also encompasses remarkable natural and geological features, such as the great tectonic rift that provides an extraordinary illustration of continental drift. How would you describe the importance of this interplay between nature and culture?
The interplay of history and nature is in a way the essence of the site. But it is the nature of the site that greets the visitor, and they are drawn naturally to the view of the tectonic faults and the distinct mountains surrounding lake Thingvallavatn.
Sometimes visitors don´t fully realise or understand that they are visiting the most historic site in Iceland whereas the physical evidence for its history is very hidden. They often need to be pointed out or interpreted by references to the Icelandic sagas and other written sources. Visitors are all the time immersed in the spectacular nature.
A visit to Þingvellir National Park is part of one of the most popular itineraries for visitors to Iceland. Are there any issues related to tourism pressure?
For the last 15 years tourism in Iceland has increased tremendously and reached a peak just before Covid with annual increase of 15-40% throughout this period. This caused a lot of challenges at many sites in Iceland including Thingvellir to accommodate peak hour masses visiting different destinations.
The visiting pattern at Thingvellir hasn´t changed through this period but the intensity obviously increased. The area that most visitors visit at Thingvellir is large in comparison with many other destinations in Iceland. Tourists can roam around the site on different trails and paths but still on peak hour at the main trails in Almannagja sense of crowding can occur.
The main issues related to tourism was for quite some time the access to restrooms but during Covid we used the downtime to install restroom in strategic locations, which has significantly improved our services for our visitors.
The flow of visitors is very well known at Thingvellir and visitors follow very clear paths which are then confined with visible ropes/lines that indicate that visitors are not supposed to go off trail. This is very important and despite the increased volumes of tourists through the last decade, erosion and damage are not found in the most visited area.
At current we have been dealing with in several locations issues with peak parking but in coming years the national park will implemented a new master plan that addresses relocation of major parking spaces further away from the main sites, served with trails and busses for internal movement of visitors with in the site. The parking situation at present is though still manageable.
Are specific strategies being implemented to manage visitor flows and promote mindful, responsible tourism?
As stated, before all trails that tourists use at the main site are carefully fenced off with simple poles and clear ropes/lines which make sure that all tourists follow the trails and don´t cause damage or erosion. Thingvellir National Park has a good dedicated well trained park rangers who keep also a vigil eye on our visitors both for their safety and to inform them but also to make sure the site is respected.
To what extent do you think social media communication influences issues related to tourism pressure?
Influencers must be informed about the etiquette´s and rules of conservations areas in general. But the search and need for an extra LIKE can have them behave very irresponsible and is some cases recklessly.
Still at Thingvellir we haven’t had major negative experiences with influencers. I sometime scratch my head about the behaviour of modern tourists who often seem to forget where they are located or what they are experiencing due to their anxiety on how their poses are or their selfies look.