Aurora: Þingvellir

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Where to stand

Start at the Hakið viewpoint by the visitor centre, above the edge of the gorge. Look north and north-east over the valley and up to the zenith. When the aurora is strong, the car parks by the lake are also good, as the aurora is reflected in the water.

View towards the pole

The valley and Mount Ármannsfell to the north-east, Lake Þingvallavatn to the south

Sky darkness (Bortle scale): 2

Rules and safety

This is a national park: stay on the paths and keep the car on roads, because off-road driving is illegal in Iceland. Parking in the park is paid. In winter the paths in the gorge are often icy, and the rock fissures are deep.

About the spot

Þingvellir is a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, about 45 minutes' drive from Reykjavík. Here the tectonic plates pull apart, and the Almannagjá gorge cuts across the valley. The park is far from the city, and at a geomagnetic latitude of about 69° the aurora is often high.

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