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Iceland has four national parks, in different areas of the country.
Skaftafell National Park is in the south-east of Iceland. It comprises a blend of black sand, glaciers, mountains, woodland and heathland, along with a couple of stunning waterfalls. A decision was taken recently to expand the boundaries of the park, which will make it the largest in Europe (although admittedly a considerable part of the extension is glacier).
Þingvellir National Park is where the Icelandic parliament first met, more than 1000 years ago. It is geologically important as the Continental and American geological plates meet here, separated by a chasm that is an inherent part of the park itself. Þingvellir is full of lava formations and heath vegetation, while Lake Þingvallavatn is Iceland’s largest natural lake and home to various species not found elsewhere. Þingvellir is not far from Reykjavík.
Snæfellsnes National Park is Iceland’s newest park, established in 2001, and is situated on Snæfellsness peninsula in the west of Iceland. It is on the coast, but Snæfellsjökull glacier is part of the park. Grassland, ponds and lava are prominent, while seabirds abound.
Jökulsárgljúfur National Park is in the north-east of Iceland. It was formed to protect the canyon of the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river, and includes a number of waterfalls within its boundaries. Massive rocky outcrops can be found in the park, which provide shelter for a wide range of plant species.
Besides these, there are 12 other protected areas: Askja/Herðubreiðalindir, Búðahraun, Fjallabak, Gullfoss, Hornstrandir, Hveravellir, Kverkfjöll/Hvannalindir, Lakagígar, Lónsöræfi, Mývatn/Laxá, Þjórsárver and Vatnsfjörður.
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