Land of Fire and Ice

Jay and I have been having an amazing time in Iceland.

Like New Zealand, Iceland is located right across the junction of two tectonic plates. New Zealand has been formed as a result of the two plates (the Indo -Australian and the Pacific) pushing together, forming mountains like the Southern Alps as the edges buckle and collide. Iceland straddles the edge of the American and the Eurasian plates, however, the two plates are ripping apart at a rate of approximately two centimetres a year. As a result, instead of a mountain range, a 'rift valley' occurs.

The American plate is on my right. Cracks and fissures appear along its edge.

Both countries experience frequent earthquakes and eruptions at volcanic hotspots. Mix the hot lava with water, and you get geothermal activity, just like Rotorua.

The geothermal activity provides hot water and energy in abundance for Iceland. All homes in Iceland have cheap  geothermal hot water and heating. Some footpaths have hot water pipes underneath   to keep them clear of snow.

Bananas are grown in this town...

in glass houses like this, heated with geothermal  water
from the ground.

We were also very lucky, and excited, to see the Northern Lights last night. They are best seen in the darker winter months around the Arctic Circle. We saw them at midnight. It was -9 standing out in the snow watching them.