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2.1 This is Reykjavik, the most
northerly capital city in the world on the west coast of Iceland. |
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2.2 Reykjavik could be considered
to be in North America. How come? |
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2.3 This is old lava flow on the
Reyknes Peninsula on North America |
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2.4 This is the 1783 eruption from
Katla, between Vik and Höfn in Europe. |
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2.5 Hekla is an active volcano on
the European side. |
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2.6 Volcanic activity happens near
a plate margin, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge separates the North American
Plate from the Eurasian side. |
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2.7 Thingvellir, a rift in the
lavas, marking the edge of the North American Plate and the rift
valley. |
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2.7 The rift - watch a movie |
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2.8 This side is the North American
Plate and the far side is the Eurasian Plate. The flat plain in
between is a rift valley. This is a constructive plate margin moving
apart. |
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2.9 Thingvallavatn, a rift valley
lake, the largest in Iceland. It has few visible streams flowing in
but a great big one coming out. The lavas all around are porous and
many underground streams run into it. |
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2.10 Pa hoe hoe lavas typical of
basalt lava flows on constructive plate margins. These ropy lavas
are only thousands of years old. |
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2.11 Kerio a crater, typical of the
rift. |
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2.12 Thingvellir is a special place
to Icelanders, the home of the first Icelandic parliament. The
reason – who really knows but it is sheltered, there is flat land
for setting up camp and there is an echo of the rift so that you can
speak quietly and be heard. |
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2.13 See the Iceland flag
fluttering at Thingvallir marking this very important site. |
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2.14 Iceland is the land of light
in summer and dark in winter. This light is 1 am in May. |
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2.15 Blue for the sea, white for
the ice and red for the fire or volcanic activity, all important to
Icelanders. |
