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Lögberg facts for kids

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Law speaker
A 19th-century drawing of the Law Rock in Þingvellir.
Law Rock
A photo of the Law Rock in Þingvellir taken in 2010s.

Lögberg, also known as the Law Rock, is a famous rocky spot in Iceland. For many years, it was a very important place for the people of Iceland. It was where the country's main law-making group, called the Althing (or parliament), would meet.

The Althing is like a big meeting where leaders discuss and create laws for the country. In the past, this important meeting happened at a beautiful place called Þingvellir. Þingvellir was easy to reach for people living in southwest Iceland. It is known for its stunning natural beauty.

Alþingi Lögberg aerial panorama
An aerial photo of Alþingi Lögberg taken in June 2017.

Where is the Law Rock?

The exact spot of the Lögberg today is not fully known. This is because the land in the rift valley has changed a lot over the last 1,000 years. However, experts have found two possible locations within Þingvellir.

One possible spot is a flat ledge on top of a slope called Hallurinn. Today, you can see a flagpole marking this area. The other possible place is in the Almannagjá fault, right against a rock wall. There is also a newer idea that the best location might be in the Hestagjá ravine.

What Happened at Lögberg?

The Lögberg was a very special place for the Althing. It was where the Lawspeaker (called a lögsögumaður) officially started their job. The Lawspeaker was the main leader of the Althing.

Many important speeches and announcements were made from the Lögberg. Anyone attending the Althing could stand on the Law Rock and share their thoughts. The Althing also used this spot to officially begin and end their yearly gatherings.

History of the Law Rock

The Lögberg was used as the meeting place for the Althing starting around 930 A.D. This means it was important for over 300 years! However, its use stopped after 1262 A.D. This was around the time when Norway took control of Iceland.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Lögberg para niños

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