But did you know that there’s a plate boundary in Iceland where you can actually swim – and that it’s not only safe, but incredibly beautiful? The Silfra Fissure in Iceland’s Thingvellir National Park straddles the Eurasian and North American continental plates.
Where can you dive between tectonic plates?
Silfra is the only place in the world where you can dive or snorkel directly in a crack between two tectonic plates. The earthquakes of 1789 opened up several fissures in the Thingvellir area, but the Silfra fissure cut into the underground spring filled with glacial meltwater from the nearby Langjökull glacier.
How deep is the Silfra crack?
Answer: The maximum allowed dive depth in Silfra is 18 meters / 60 feet, however the average depth of a typical Silfra dive is about 10 meters / 32 feet. Depending on the dive qualifications and dive experience of the divers, the Silfra dive might be shallower for safety and convenience.
Can you touch two tectonic plates in Iceland?
Iceland’s Silfra fissure is one of the only places where you can dive between two continents. In some cases the space is so narrow, you can touch North America and Europe at once. Iceland’s Silfra fissure – a crack between continents formed by the constant pulling apart of two tectonic plates – is a geological wonder.
Can you swim between tectonic plates in Iceland? – Related Questions
Can you swim in Silfra fissure?
If you’re looking for your next adventure, you may want to head to Iceland. One of the top dive sites in the world, the Silfra fissure in Thingvellir National Park is a crack between two tectonic plates. It’s the only spot on Earth where you can swim directly between the North American and European continents.
Can you snorkel Silfra on your own?
Snorkeling or Diving the Silfra Fissure in Iceland
Anyone can snorkel Silfra, even without any snorkeling experience, as the route along the fissure is simple and easy. The drysuit will keep you buoyant, so all you have to do is float along and enjoy the surreal underwater world below.
Is Silfra fissure worth it?
Snorkeling the Silfra Fissure is often considered one of the top tourist attractions in the WORLD! Why? Because it is the only place in the world where you can snorkel between two tectonic plates. Also, it is the clearest water you will ever swim in, with visibility over 100 meters.
Can you dive in Silfra without dry suit certification?
To dive in Silfra you need dry suit certification OR a minimum of 10 logged dry suit dives within the last two years.
Is Silfra the clearest water in the world?
Silfra is said to have the clearest water in the world; feel free to have a sip of this pristine water at any point during your dive or snorkel. As Silfra is right at the crux between the tectontic plates, it is a very “living” dive site in that it is constantly undergoing changes, both large and small.
Can you touch two continents in Iceland?
It’s a bit chilly, but the Silfra fissure in Iceland boasts some of the clearest, most pure water in the world, making it one epic dive.
Can you stand on two continents in Iceland?
Thingvellir (or, in Icelandic, Þingvellir) is the only place in the world where you can stand between two continental plates, in a distinctive geological landscape that changes every year. Part of the Golden Circle, Þingvellir is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an important historical location in Iceland.
Where do 2 continents meet in Iceland?
The Bridge between Continents (or Midlina) is a 15 meter (50 ft) footbridge in the Reykjanes Peninsula spanning a gaping rift between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. The lava-scarred Reykjanes Peninsula lies directly on the Mid Atlantic Ridge.
Will Iceland split in two?
Because Iceland lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, it is being split by the movements of the shifting tectonic plates. The plates are moving apart, one to the east, the other to the west, and both the North American and the Eurasian systems are moving to the northwest across the hotspot.
Is most of Iceland uninhabitable?
Almost 80% of the country is uninhabited, and much of its terrain consists of plateaux, mountain peaks, and fertile lowlands.
Why is most of Iceland uninhabitable?
The Highlands make up about half of Iceland’s land area, which is of recent volcanic origin and consists of a mountainous lava desert (highest elevation 2,110 m (6,923 ft) above sea level) and other wastelands. The area is mostly uninhabited and uninhabitable.
Is Iceland a US ally?
U.S. policy aims to maintain close, cooperative relations with Iceland, both as a NATO ally and as a friend interested in the shared objectives of enhancing international cooperation on pressing global issues; respect for human rights; economic development; arms control; and law enforcement cooperation, including the
How do Icelanders feel about Americans?
The individual American is most often friendly and kind. Not necessarily so different from the average European. The biggest difference for me is how they will casually start a conversation with strangers (Canadians do this as well).