Fascinating Facts To Know About Iceland's 'Young' Landscape

Iceland’s landscape is young, geologically speaking. Still an active volcanic island, the landscape is actually still in the making. Because of the active movement of tectonic plates shifting beneath the earth’s surface, volcanoes and earthquakes are constantly being the result. Iceland lies on top of two divergent plates called the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the meeting place of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates which are very, very slowly moving apart. Along this active ridge, you can find all the typical activity to be suspected: volcanic craters, hot springs, steam springs, earthquakes.

Almost all of Iceland’s rocks are volcanic basalt. Not surprisingly, these young rocks are formed around the volcanic ridge. With more than 100 volcanoes in Iceland, only 25 of them have been active in the past 10,000 years, rather recent in geologic terms. An average rate of one eruption every five years has been the norm in Iceland for hundreds of years. While most cause minimal damage, the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in 2010 was certainly a costly hazard.

Lakagígar, which erupted in the late 18th century, spewed forth the largest lava flow ever produced by a volcano in recorded history. With a volume of about 12 cubic km, the noxious gases it emitted ruined livestock and crops and led to a disastrous famine that killed nearly 20% of the population of Iceland. It was even considered to move the entire population of Iceland to Denmark.

Iceland has also been shaped as much by ice as by fire. While Iceland’s mountains and fjords were formed by glaciers during the Ice Age, the remaining glaciers are thought to be from a more recent cold spell around 500 BC. Covering around 11% of the island’s surface, glaciers and icecaps sometimes are found sitting on top of volcanoes. It is from these subglacial volcanoes that more damage is caused as mass flooding is triggered. When the Bárðarbugna-Grímsvötn volcano erupted beneath Vatnajökull glacier in 1996, meltwater from the eruption brought massive flooding – sweeping away roads and bridges and leaving icebergs the size of buildings. Later, in 2015, the same volcano erupted creating a lava field the size of Manhattan.

While living on a volcanic hot spot can bring some incredible natural hazards, it brings the benefit of an endless source of hot water. Beginning in 1930, geothermal energy has been harnessed. Today, hydroelectric power stations supply around 80% of electricity to those living in Iceland.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.