Peningagjá
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About Peningagjá
Peningagjá, the "money fissure," is a water-filled crack in Þingvellir National Park, under the little bridge by Þingvellir church, where you can see coins glinting on the bottom. Officially it is part of Nikulásargjá, the eastern branch of a fault that splits opposite the old assembly site.
The coins started arriving after the fissure was bridged in 1907, the year King Frederik VIII of Denmark visited Þingvellir. There is no folk tale behind the habit, and the national park presents the coins as a sign of how much the clear groundwater is worth. Please keep yours in your pocket, since metal and litter in the water do the fissure no good.
Peningagjá is a five-minute stop rather than an outing in itself. It sits a few steps from Þingvallakirkja, so pair it with the church, Lögberg and the walk up to Almannagjá and Öxarárfoss. Silfra, where the snorkeling and diving tours go in, is also close to the same parking area.
Þingvellir is about 45 minutes' drive northeast of Reykjavík on Route 36. The nearest parking lot is P5 at Valhöll, and the park charges 1,000 ISK per day for a car with up to five seats, valid in P1, P2 and P5. Seeing the fissure itself is free at any time of year, though the bridge and paths can be icy in winter.
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Good to know
Why is it called Peningagjá?
Peningagjá means "money fissure." Visitors began throwing coins into the water after the crack was bridged in 1907, and the name stuck.
What is the difference between Peningagjá and Nikulásargjá?
Nikulásargjá is the official name of the fissure. Peningagjá is the popular name for the coin-filled stretch under the bridge by Þingvellir church.
Should you throw coins into Peningagjá?
No. Coins and litter harm the clear water, so admire the old coins and keep your own.
Where is Peningagjá?
It is in Þingvellir National Park, a few steps from Þingvallakirkja. The nearest parking lot is P5 at Valhöll.
Can you snorkel in Peningagjá?
Snorkeling and diving at Þingvellir take place in the nearby Silfra fissure on guided tours, a short walk from Peningagjá.
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