Iceland is one of the youngest landmasses on the planet
While the Earth is over four billion years old, the volcanic island of Iceland only began emerging from the ocean depths approximately 16 to 18 million years ago.
Iceland sits directly atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are actively pulling apart. This unique position over a volcanic hotspot allows molten rock to constantly rise and create new ground. Most of the island's visible landscape is actually much younger than the country itself, with some lava fields having formed only within the last few centuries.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 4-question quiz