Why Is Iceland So Volcanic?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why is Iceland so volcanic?

The Big Idea

Iceland is a land of volcanoes and hot springs! It sits on top of a plate gap and a hotspot, and both make lots of melted rock. That is why Iceland is still being built, bit by bit, even today.

Plates Pull Apart

Step one: plates pull apart. Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where two plates are moving away from each other. As they part, melted rock rises up to fill the gap and cools into new land.

A Hotspot Below

Step two: a hotspot below. A hotspot is a rising stream of hot rock from deep inside Earth. Under Iceland, it adds even more melted rock, called magma.

Volcanoes Form

Step three: volcanoes form. All that magma feeds many volcanoes and hot springs, and steamy geysers. A new island named Surtsey even rose from the sea there in 1963.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Two plates are slowly parting here. A hotspot sends up extra hot rock. Together they build many volcanoes. They also warm up hot springs all over Iceland.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Iceland grows wider by about 2 centimeters each year. Many Icelanders use underground heat to warm homes. Iceland is nicknamed the land of fire and ice. Volcanoes are watched closely by scientists, so people stay safe.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Find Iceland on a globe. Notice that it sits in the middle of the ocean, right on the ridge. Draw an arrow showing which way each plate moves apart. Point out the two plates to someone you love, and explain why Iceland is so special!

Outro

Iceland is built by a ridge and a hotspot. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!