Interpretive center

The Interpretive Center is in a new building close to the viewspot at Hakið, where a footpath leads down into the great Almannagjá fault. The exhibition in the Interpretive Center is almost exclusively based on interactive multimedia and is the first of its kind in Iceland. The exhibition is therefore quite modern in design, although good care has been taken to make it easily accessible to the visitors.

The history and nature of Þingvellir and its surroundings literally "come alive" on large TV monitors, playing a wide variety of illustrative video and audio material. Using conveniently placed touch screens, you can choose narrative (and subtitles) in four different languages: Danish, English, German, French and Icelandic (a wider selection of languages will be added to the program later). You then decide for yourself which particular sections of the multimedia program you want to view. For instance, you might be prompted to "dive into" the habitat of lake Þingvallavatn and view unique close-up footage of fish in the lake, such as the brown trout.

It takes about 40 minutes to view the whole multimedia program, but, as indicated before, visitors use the touch-screen interface to select which parts they prefer to view. Each program section is intended to provide the general national park visitor with some interesting and useful information about the subject at hand.

The exhibition is open daily, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., from 1st April to 1st November. Admission is free.