the rift valley

Raven's Gorge, the edge of the European continent.


















A fissure in the rift valley, between North America and Europe. Iceland adds about 2cm a year as the plates pull apart, and loses about that much yearly to erosion at the sea shore. As we were looking around, other tourists were suiting up to snorkel in the fissures. The water was crystal clear.





























From the rift valley, you can see the wall of the North American continent rising above the Law Rock on the Parliament Plains, where the Icelandic Commonwealth was formed by Vikings in 930. The white flag pole marks the spot.

From the top, looking back over the rift valley and the Law Rock. Lava flows formed the swirling pattern of the rock.