Iceland is one of the world’s most geologically active countries. It lies on the North Atlantic Ridge at the boundary of the American and Eurasian plates and probably emerged from the sea no more than 25 million years ago. The fault line runs NE/SW dividing the country in two. Around this fault, land is still being created, volcanoes erupt and hot springs bubble.

Iceland suffers a volcanic eruption an average every 5 to 10 years and approximately 10% of the land surface is covered with lava. In 1783, the row of craters, Lakagigar produced the greatest outpouring of lava recorded anywhere in the world, covering over 550 square kilometres.

Approx. location of fault line

The poisonous fumes caused crops to fail and livestock to die. The ensuing famine resulted in the death of up to a quarter of Iceland’s population. Hekla is probably the best known of Iceland’s volcanoes and is easily seen from the Ring Road in the south. It last erupted in 2000.