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Althing

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The historic Alþingishúsið building in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The Althing is the oldest parliament in the world. It started in the year 930 in a place called Þingvellir, which is about 45 kilometres east of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland.

People in Iceland call it the Icelandic Parliament or the Parliament of Iceland. For many years, it did not have full power. But today, it helps make laws for Iceland.

The Althing meets in Reykjavík now. It has 63 members who are chosen every four years. These members help decide important things for the country.

The Althing is very special because it has been around for more than 1,000 years. It began as a meeting place where leaders made laws and solved problems. Today, it continues to play an important role in Iceland’s government.

Images

A meeting of Iceland's Parliament, the Alþingi, inside the Parliament House.
A 19th-century painting showing a historic Viking parliament in session, offering a glimpse into early democratic traditions.

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Iceland

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Althing, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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