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b'Besides the Reykjav\\xedk area, the South Coast of Iceland is by far the most popular part of the country that is featured on social media, blogs and in one of Justin Bieber\\u2019s music videos. People from around the world are flocking there in droves. According to  the Icelandic Tourism Board\\u2019s statistics for 2017, during the winter 55% of the travelers that come to Iceland traveled to the South and in the summer, a whopping 71% of travelers to the country went to that region. It is without a doubt a very popular place but it might make one wonder, \\u201cIs it really worth the hype?\\u201d
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\\nBefore answering that, let\\u2019s start off with what you can see and do along the South  Coast of Iceland. Because this area does have a variety of attractions and stunning nature, I have split everything up into three categories. I will start off with talking about historical sites and the most popular places to visit. Following that, will be the type of wildlife and nature you can find in this region. Lastly, I will go over the fun activities that are available for you to do along the South Coast.
\\nHistorical Sites & Most Popular Places to Visit
\\n1. \\xdeingvellir National Park
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\\n\\xdeingvellir is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is popular for many reasons. The first and most important reason  is due to its historical significance in Icelandic society. The general assembly for Parliament, or Al\\xfeing in Icelandic, was established here around 930 and continued to meet there until 1798. The parliament members would discuss and decide on laws, as well as pass judgements on any matters brought before them.
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\\nThe Logberg or Law Rock is where public speaking events took place. The unique geology in the area created a natural amphitheater for such speaking events. Along with learning about history and being able to see where Icelandic people\\u2019s ancestors used to meet,  you can witness the Mid-Atlantic ridge. This ridge is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly separating at a rate of two centimeters per year. The separation has created a rift valley, which means that you can walk between two continents.
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\\n2. Churches Along the South Coast
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\\nEven though less than 10% of Icelandic population goes to church each month, there are many churches in the country. In fact, there are 19 churches that can be found along the South Coast of Iceland, if you exclude the ones in the Reykjav\\xedk area. Many of these churches have a similar style that makes them easy to spot. Just look for a steeple with a cross on top that is attached to a large room that is used for the congregation to meet in.
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\\nOn a map, you will always know how to find a church because the word kirkja will be at the end. Kirkja means church. Some of the churches that get a decent amount of visitors are the ones in Selfoss, \\xdeingvellir, Strandar and H\\xf6fn.  The church in H\\xf6fn is especially interesting because it has a turf roof and was built in 1884!  See the full list of churches along the South Coast of Iceland here.
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\\nChurch with a turf roof
\\n3. Museums & Cultural Centers
\\nIcelandic people are very proud of their culture and the nature that surrounds them.'