Iceland: Where Continents Split and Grow (w music)

Did you know Iceland is one of the only places on Earth where you can watch a continent tear

itself apart? Iceland sits directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North

American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly drifting away from each other. At Þingvellir National

Park, that split is visible at the surface — a massive rift valley where the ground

is literally pulling itself apart. As the plates separate, magma rises from deep within the

Earth, creating constant volcanic activity. That’s why Iceland has over 130 volcanoes,

with about 30 considered active — one of the highest concentrations on the planet. The same forces

ripping Iceland apart also power its geothermal energy, heating homes and even sidewalks.