CityBuddy
Peningagjá (Peningargjá) Fissure
Best time to visit
Early morning or late afternoon in summer for softer light and fewer visitors. Winter offers striking ice edges and atmospheric low light, but expect short daylight and slippery paths.
Budget tips
No admission fee to Thingvellir or Peningagjá; parking at main lots usually requires a small paid ticket, or join a shuttle or guided tour to avoid parking charges.
Recommended for
Geology enthusiasts, Photography enthusiasts, Couples and contemplative walkers, Day-trippers from Reykjavik
Plan your visit
30-45 minutes
About
Nopeat faktat: Cool, crystal-clear water pools in the narrow crack where you can peer straight down between diverging rock walls, giving the odd sensation of standing on the boundary between tectonic plates. Geologists measure the rift opening by about two centimeters per year, and visiting feels like watching Earth's slow motion, with strange echoes and a hush that magnifies every drip and footstep.
Kohokohdat: Slide up to a narrow rift of glass-clear, aquamarine water and stare straight through to basalt walls layered like a geological cake, each layer rising roughly 8 to 12 meters with sunlight turning the fault into a seam of molten turquoise. Local lore says people began tossing coins into the crack centuries ago, giving it a 'money' nickname, and divers still report spotting copper and silver coins glinting in the silt about ten meters down.
Insider tips
- Wear windproof layers and sturdy shoes, paths can be uneven and weather changes fast.
- Arrive before 9 a.m. to beat coach tours and enjoy serene photo conditions at the fissure.
- Use the footbridge near Silfra for framed rift and water photos, and stay on marked trails to protect fragile moss.
- In winter bring microspikes and extra time, and check park notices for access or drone restrictions.
Practical info
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