The Parliamentary Plains are the most important historic site of the country. They are located just below the western fault line of the Icelandic Graben within the boundaries of the first National Park, which was established in 1928.
The oldest parliament of the world was founded here in 930 on Lake Thingvallavatn, the largest natural lake of the country. One of the country's most important historic sites, Skalholt, is located nearby. It was the seat of the bishops of   the southern see for 740 years and a school was established there around the year 1056. Nowadays it is still a school centre, mainly used for all kinds of courses and adult education. An excellent salmon river, Ida, runs past the hamlet. The second largest spring fed river, Bruara, north and west of Skalholt, offers good trout fishing. It had a natural stone arch, used by travellers and vagabonds to get to Skalholt. One of the bishops' wives had it demolished to prevent the vagabonds from pestering the household. The distance from the capital is about 90 km. .