What is Thingvellir National Park known for?
Þingvellir is notable for its unusual tectonic and volcanic environment in a rift valley. The continental drift between the North American and Eurasian Plates can be clearly seen in the cracks or faults which traverse the region, the largest one, Almannagjá, being a veritable canyon.
Why is silfra significant for tectonic plates?
The Geology of Silfra Silfra is the only place in the world where you can dive or snorkel directly in a crack between two tectonic plates. The water is filtered through porous underground lava for 30-100 years before reaching the spring that feeds into Silfra.
Why is silfra so clear?
Why is the Water so Clear in Silfra? The cooler the water the clearer it is. The water temperature at Silfra is constantly between 2 and 4C (35 to 39 F), making it too cold for most creatures to live there.
What is the phenomenon of big crack?
Massive Crack Forms In Wyoming Mountain: What Caused This Geologic Phenomenon? The massive crack which formed in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming may have been caused by a slow-moving landslide and may possibly expand bigger, a geologist suggested.
What are two famous Thingvellir volcanoes?
About 10,000 years ago, when the glacier had reached its current position, a shield volcanic eruption started. This resulted both in mount Skjaldbreiður, one of the most beautiful shield volcanoes in Iceland, and a shield volcano south of mount Hrafnabjörg, from which the Þingvellir lava flowed.
Where can you touch 2 continents at once?
There’s one tiny spot in Iceland where you can touch 2 continents at once
- The Silfra fissure in Thingvellir National Park is one of the top dive sites in the world.
- A crack between two tectonic plates, it’s the only spot on Earth where you can swim between North America and Europe.
Can you swim between tectonic plates?
There’s only one place in the world where you can swim in the tectonic plates between 2 continents. The Silfra fissure in Iceland is the crack between North America and Europe. It is the only place in the world where you can swim between two tectonic plates.
What is it called when plates crack?
Faults are cracks in the earth’s crust along which there is movement. These can be massive (the boundaries between the tectonic plates themselves) or very small. If tension builds up along a fault and then is suddenly released, the result is an earthquake.