50km (31 miles) to the east of Reykjavik, Thingvellir is the national shrine of Iceland and its most historic site. The oldest existing parliament in the world first met here in 930AD. The Althing also met here every year to enact laws, including the law passed in 1000AD to introduce Christianity to the island. It has always been the focal point for the country, and whenever a major event is to be celebrated, thousands of people come here. At the celebration of the 1,100th anniversary of the first settlement in 1974, more than 60,000 people packed into Thingvellir.