Giant rifts in Iceland, Iceland
From series “Dangerous Faults and Rifts of Earth Crust”
Last years the researchers keep a close eye to the Iceland volcanoes. Earlier their power and dangerousness were underestimated. On the territory of the island, you can see several faults of the earth that has appeared after the movements of Eurasia and North American tectonic plates. The plates go from each other year by year for 7 mm. At the first glance, it seems not so crucial. However, for the last 10 000 years, the fault became bigger for 70 meters. If we put together these measures with the Earth age, these changes are drastically big.
Some scientists think that the main part of the fault is covered with glaciers. Their melt can become a reason for the increase of the fault. The overheated substance under the earth is covered with a huge amount of ice. If this ice melt and the water come to the fault, the large catastrophe won't pass away. That’s why ecologists and researchers from the whole world see the global warming as the main reason for the imminent lithosphere catastrophe.
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Giant rifts in Iceland - interactive map
Useful staff nearby
ATM bankomat: 'Íslandsbanki hraðbanki' located in 23 km (
check the route on the map).
Car rental office: 'Hertz Car Rental Iceland - Akureyri Airport' is located in 21 km (
on the map).
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