Skip to content

Thing Sites: Thingvellir Lögberg Traditional Geocache

Hidden : 9/5/2012
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

A traditional lock'n'lock box capable of holding logbook, pencil and small swappable items.

Thing sites, from the Old Norse Þing, are the early assemblies found throughout Northern Europe as a result of our shared Norse heritage.

When the Vikings and early Norse settlers arrived in a new place they brought with them their customs and legal systems. Political decisions were made at the thing, laws upheld and disputes settled. Proceedings were overseen by the local ruler and the law-speaker (judge), whose job was to memorise and recite the law. At some things, known as Althings, any free man was entitled to vote. At others - Lawthings - the crown and local communities acted together to interpret the law.

The thing was also a focus for religious activity, as well as trade and exchange. At Thingvellir in Iceland you can still see the remains of the booths, or huts, where traders came to do business with people attending the meeting.

The thing system for sharing and legislating power can still be recognised today. Several things continue to be active. The Icelandic parliament is still known as the Althing, the Norwegian parliament is called the Storting and the Faroese parliament goes by the name of Løgting. The Manx parliament, known as Tynwald, still holds a midsummer court on the thing mound at Tynwald Hill every year.

There are Thing Sites caches in and around the locations of Norse and Viking assembly sites in Norway, Iceland, The Faroe Islands, Orkney, Shetland, Highland Scotland, and the Isle of Man. Follow in the footsteps of the Vikings, and explore some of these fascinating sites.

At Þingvellir, Alþing - general assembly was established around 930 and continued to convene there until 1798. All major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at Þingvellir. Today Þingvellir is a national park where the protected area shall always be the property of the Icelandic nation, under the preservation of the Alþing.

Research has made it clear that Þingvellir is a natural wonder on a international scale, with the geologic history and the biosystem of Lake Þingvallavatn forming a unique entity. The faults and fissures of the area make evident the rifting of the earth's crust and the ecosystem of Lake Þingvallavatn is a perfect example of species evolution in nature.

Walk the main path in the rift towards the Logberg. The cache is near the boardwalk on the most important site at Thingvellir, Logberg the Lawrock.

It can be easily accessed from all parking lots surrounding the Thingvellir assembly site. This parking can used for all three Things Sites Geocaches hidden at Thingvellir National Park.

The site is only accesible by foot. It is about a 500 meter walk from the nearest parking. Easy walking on a gravel path towards the location. There are restrooms about 3 km away and food as well in the visitor centre. Information and restrooms can also be found at the upper visitor centre near the viewpoint.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Uvqqra haqre lbhe srrg.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)