EarthRef.org Digital Archive (ERDA) -- Map of the North American Plate and the Eurasian Plate Diverging Over Iceland

Description
This is a map of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge running through the middle of Iceland, separating the North American and Eurasian Plates. The two plates are diverging, with the North American moving westward relative to Eurasia. The map also shows, in red triangles, the locations of some of Iceland's active volcanoes, including Krafla, Reykjavik (the capital of Iceland), and the Thingvellir area. The rare above sea-level Mid-Atlantic Ridge allows scientists to study the processes of diverging plate boundaries on land rather than submerged on the ocean floor where mid ocean ridges most commonly occur.

Keywords
North American Plate, Eurasian Plate, plate tectonics, tectonic plates, continental drift, diverging plate boundary, spreading center, lithospheric plates, ERESE

Copyright Owner
Enduring Resources for Earth Science Education (ERESE)

Copyright Description
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