Iceland's frequent volcanic and seismic activity is due to it's location at the juncture of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. These plates are separating at the geologically significant rate of two centimeters a year. You can see the site of the growing rift at the Thingvellir National Park.
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| The North American tectonic plate is on the left and the Eurasian plate is on the right. |
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| Lying in the rift valley, Thingvallavatn is the largest natural lake in Iceland. |
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| When a hole in a gravel footpath opened up in 2011, it was excavated to reveal a large fissure. |
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| The wooden footbridge on the right has replaced the old gravel path. |
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| Again, that's the North American tectonic plate on the left and the Eurasian on the right. |
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| Walking back, the Eurasian plate is now on the left. |
Will this rift eventually split Iceland into two separate islands? Stay tuned.
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