First, big crack is silfras narrowest section, where the continental plates are so close that it is almost possible to touch them both at the same time. What a feeling it must be to swim in between the growing gap of north america, and europe. Here i am again silfra hall the fissure then widens a bit at this area. Big crack, silfras narrowest section and where the continental plates are so close you can almost touch them. The underwater dive feature is a direct result of a drift between the two continental plates of europe and north america.
The extreme water clarity is because the glacier water is so cold 24 degrees c and it is filtered through porous underground lava for 30. Big crack, silfra hall, silfra cathedral and the silfra lagoon. The idea behind continental or tectonic plate theory is that geologically the outermost shell of the planet is sitting on top of a liquid mantle or core of the earth. The silfra crack, where divers can touch two continents at. The silfra crack in iceland is a rift between the american and eurasian tectonic plates. Truly a unique experience, found nowhere else in the world. The snorkeling silfra day tour with pickup includes transportation between reykjavik and silfra. Silfra is a fissure between the european and the north american tectonic plates that are drifting apart here in iceland. Diving and snorkling in the silfra crack, the crack between the european and north american continental plates.
Diving between two continents, diving in silfra gloholiday. Here the full spectrum of silfras colours and clarity become all. Divers love silfra because the water is so clear that you can see more than 100 yards ahead of you. Snorkeling in the silfra fissure is a once in a lifetime experience that you dont want to miss. We offer daily tours where you get the chance to float between the two continental plates while enjoying the clarity of the water. This remarkable crack is filled with the clearest water on our planet over 100 meters visibility. Day tour snorkeling in silfra at thingvellir nonnitravel.
Icelands silfra fissure a crack between continents formed by the constant pulling apart of two tectonic plates is a geological wonder. In the deep waters of the atlantic ocean this crack is mainly unseen, but at silfra, clear melt water of icelandic glaciers make the rift visible. In some parts of this freshwater rift, a diver can touch. First, the silfra fissure is actually a crack between the north american and eurasian continents, meaning that you dive or snorkel right where the. Located in thingvellir national park, the silfra fissure is a crack between two tectonic plates where you can swim between north america and. The silfra fissure in iceland forms part of the boundary between the north american and the eurasian tectonic plates. Silfra fissure is in the heart of thingvellir national park exactly at the point where. Located in icelands thingvellir national park is the most impressive meeting place of the north american and eurasian tectonic plates the silfra fissure.
The visibility in silfra exceeds 100m, making it some of the clearest water in the world, and divers and snorkellers dive and float between the american and eurasian continental plates. Every year the tectonic plates drift apart by roughly 2cm, putting the land in between under great tension. The silfra crack, where divers can touch two continents at once. Its also very cold about 36 to 39 degrees fahrenheit. You can actually snorkel in the crack between two continental plates, the european and north american, in a place called silfra.
Diving in silfra iceland iceland adventure tours from. Every 10 years or so, this tension is released through major earthquakes. Here the full spectrum of silfras colours and clarity become all the more apparent. At this point if you look at just the right angle you can see all the way to lake. Silfra is an underwater fissure in thingvellir national park, the first national park in iceland and a unesco world heritage site. Silfra is the only place in the world you can dive directly between the worlds biggest continental plates, the north american and the eurasian. This remarkable crack between two tectonic plates is therefore filled with the clearest water. Theres a fissure between the north american and eurasian tectonic plates. The silfra fissure is a crack between the north american and eurasian continents, a unique place where scuba divers can touch both continents at the same time deep beneath the surface of the water. There is a crack between the american and eurasian continental plates, which happens to pass through iceland about 2 hours outside of reykjavik. Plate tectonics may be essential for life quanta magazine. Silfra is a fissure between the north american and eurasian tectonic plates in thingvellir national park. You will float through big crack, silfras narrowest section where the continental plates are so close you can almost touch them simultaneously. Dive site silfra in thingvellir national park, iceland dive.
Snorkeling in iceland silfra snorkeling extreme iceland. It was proven in silfra that underwater visibility exceeds 100 meters, which is extremely rare. Every year the tectonic plates drift apart by roughly 2cm, putting the land in. Big crack, silfra hall, silfra cathedral and silfra lagoon. Silfra is the only place where you can dive or snorkel directly in the crack between two continental plates. During the tour, you will explore the four main parts of silfra. Divingsnorkeling silfra iceland continental divide. You will float through big crack, silfras narrowest section and where the continental plates are so close you can almost touch them. The geology of silfra and the thingvellir valley are closely connected to the midatlantic ridge and the continental drift that occurs along its length.
Post jobs, find pros, and collaborate commissionfree in our professional marketplace. This fissure runs right between the two continental plates. Silfra is a fissure in thingvellir national park which provides a unique opportunity to dive beetween the north american and eurasian continental plates. But what makes diving silfra crack in the thingvellir national park extraordinary is that, by diving here, youre in the space between two worlds. Org all about silfra, the famous dive site in iceland. Silfra constantly fills with glacial water that has been trickling through underground lava rock for 30 years. In the illustrated dictionary of my imaginings, the word has a picture of me sitting between the eurasian and north american continental plates, getting up the nerve to immerse myself in water that is 35 degrees fahrenheit. Diving silfra, iceland, between the continental plates. The popularity of this unique site has made it one of the coolest places to visit in iceland. Im so ready for the shock of numbing cold that when i. Silfra rift diving between two continents, iceland youtube. The silfra fissure iceland is a monument to geology. Heres mike diving snorkeling silfra in the summer looks a bit different green algae they call troll hair actually grows on the rocks. Scuba diving the silfra in iceland dive buddies 4 life.
This creates tension on the land itself, which releases with a major. As it is located in a national park, you will need to join a dive tour operator. Snorkeling in silfra in iceland between 2 continents. A fissure, that even has a name, silfra, which translates to silvery, appeared in 1789 after a major earthquake. Diving silfra was one of the most fantastic things ive ever done. Padi dry suit speciality course dive in silfra fissure. The continental plates are drifting apart at a rate of approximately 2cm per year, slowly widening the gap and increasing the beautiful space the silfra fissure covers. You might prefer such tropes as manversusnature or manversusbluealiens, but the best geological drama often unfolds when tectonic plates duke it out, especially continental plates. The fissure is formed by the pulling apart of two tectonic plates. Snorkeling in silfra fissure snorkeling in silfra fissure is a once in a lifetime experience, you dont want to miss.
The crack of silfra conflict is the meat of great storytelling. Get your padi dry suit certificate in iceland and dive in the clearest water in the world, silfra fissure, between the continental plates. Its a huge crack in the earths surface, where the continental plates meet and which is slowing widening by about two centimeters per year. The european and american continental plates are moving apart at a rate of about two centimeters a year. With about 100 metres visibility and water temperature between 2 and 4 degrees celsius, there. Beneath the silfra fissures chilly surface you can kick off from a plate holding up the rockies and land on another that is supporting the alps. Silfra is located in thingvellir national park, about 45 minutes from reykjavik. During your snorkel, you will explore the four main parts of silfra. The most astonishing underwater discoveries page 11. These two tectonic plates drift apart roughly 2cm per year.
Silfra is a rift formed in the divergent tectonic boundary between the north american and eurasian plates and is located in the. Silfra is filled with pure and clear glacial water in which you can float with us on our snorkeling tours. The silfra fissure is a crack between the north american and eurasian continental plates. This widens by 2 cm each year, and a tension is created that causes to build the silfra itself, and the valley. The fissure then widens into silfra hall, where the full spectrum of silfras colors and clarity become all the more apparent. Diving down the silfra crack allows divers to be able to swim between continents and actually touch two tectonic plates at the same time.
At silfras point in the range, continental drift forces the two tectonic plates apart by about two centimeters per year. The silfra crack or fissure is a rift that is part of a divergent tectonic boundary located between the north american and eurasian tectonic plates. Its an everwidening crack down the center of iceland where the north american and european tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart. Silfra is found on the northernmost edge of thingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in iceland. Diving will be done in a dry suit as the water is very cold, ranging 35. Iceland has a spot that lets you swim between 2 continents insider. Diving silfra a diver diving inbetween the north american and european continental plates at silfra crack, iceland. Diving in silfra iceland at thingvellir national park. Silfra is a fissure between the north american and eurasian continental plates. In some parts of this freshwater rift, a diver can touch both continents at once. The fissure lies between the plates of europe and america making it possible for.
Today, silfra is filled with crystal clear glacial water, making it the only place in the world where you can dive or snorkel between two continental plates. The silfra fissure is the only place where a swimmer can dive or snorkel directly in between the fissure crack. We offer daily tours where you get the chance to float between the two continental plates. Posted on august 28, 2018 september 3, 2018 by lovelyoutliers. The tour will last for about 30 to 40 minutes as the guide will show around the four main parts of silfra. Pushing apart the continental plates the north american and european tectonic plates move apart on an average of two centimeters per year, at silfra crack you can dive in between them and touch both sides in some sections. There are even places where they can actually touch both continents at the same time. Dive between two continents in this frigid fissure in iceland.
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