Fly Fishing Tours Iceland - Thingvellir National Park, Lake Thingvallavatn

Lake Thingvallavatn

Lake Thingvallavatn is the largest „natural” lake of the country with an area
of 83,7 km². Its greatest depth is 114 m and it reaches 13 m below sea level. The greatest length of the lake is 14,5 km and greatest width 9,5 km.
The lake's catchments area is 90% underground and the water from thousands of cold springs has a constant temperature of 3-4°C the whole year round.

The lake supports both arctic char and brown trout. The brown trout in the lake, whose origin can be traced to Britain has been one of the most talked-about freshwater fish in Iceland. Its fame primarily based on the large size.

This lake is unique in the world in one respect, since it supports four separate varieties of arctic char. The Lake Thingvallavatn arctic char is a good example of how species evolve and adapt to their surroundings.

Thingvellir was declared a national park in 1930. In the last few decades, research has made it clear that Thingvellir is a natural wonder on an international scale, with the geologic history and the bio system of lake Thingvallavatn forming unique entity, a magnificent showcase.

The Thingvellir area is part of a fissure zone running through Iceland, being situated on the tectonic plate boundaries of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The faults and fissures of the area make evident the rifting of the earth's crust.
Thingvellir National Park is listed on UNESCO’S World heritage list.