Iceland - the Mid-Atlantic ridge above water
View from the North American plate (west) side
across the axial rift valley at Thingvellir,
Iceland. This valley is part of the western
volcanic zone, one of two parallel segments
making up the ridge in Iceland. Geological and
GPS data indicate that the total spreading
between the North American and Eurasian
plates, about 2 cm/yr, is divided about evenly
between the two segments. Thingvellir was
the site of Iceland's first parliament, the
Althing, founded around 930 AD.
For 3D view see:
http://www.flippi.net/themen/panorama/eindex.htm?eisl360thingvellir.htm
Photo and text contributed by Seth Stein, Northwestern
University |
