We cruised through a few small towns and one rift valley on the way to visit another in Thingvellir. In the fog the distant cliffs disappeared, leaving a low emptiness I found obnoxiously barren. Like, is this Earth or did I magically transport to Pluto?

Life was trying to reclaim the area. It takes a known amount of time for greenery to return. It takes roughly 100 years after an eruption for a green, carpet-like moss to fully colonize the bare rock. Then grasses grow, and finally anemic trees and shrubs. This process takes an enormous amount of time to complete. Eventually the lava rock is buried under a thin layer. Top soil is scarce. When visiting Iceland, never ever step on moss. You set it back decades.

Iceland straddles the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. It is being pulled apart as the plates separate. Volcanic activity continually provides new rock, so the country won’t ever be split in half by the ocean. Vulcanologists think there is a large magma plume under the area, similar to Rotorua in New Zealand or Hawaii.

There are 130 volcanoes here. Fear not, only 18 have erupted since the island was settled in the 8th century. Seismic activity comes from the plates pulling apart and not the volcanoes. (Some exceptions apply, see local weather station for details.) On average there are 33 earthquakes a day, though most are never felt. I felt none during our visit.

On our way from Vik we stopped by Thingvellir National Park to see a rift valley, which is a depression between two widening tectonic plates. We walked along the edge of the North American plate. I knew it was the North American plate because I could feel the Freedom flowing off it.

They used to drown witches in the pool at the base of the waterfall. (Men were hanged nearby.) Seems extreme.

The area to the right is The North American Plate, while the area to the left is a microplate, just a small piece between two larger plates. It’s low, hence the water.

Obviously I’m joking about the Freedom/Socialism thing. In my experience those who complain about Socialism the loudest enjoy it most, through popular Federal programs like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, FHA loans, and the National Flood Insurance Program … to name a few.

Having done a little hiking, we got back in the car and continued our journey to Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik, where we will stay two nights.

I am fascinated by vulcanism and plate tectonics. Iceland’s land is brand new geologically speaking. Fresh out the oven. As opposed to Appalachia, here there are no soft edges and rounded shapes. Rivers do not gently flow. The contrast is set to high, the transitions are abrupt. It is beautiful but disorienting.