The Geology of Iceland for Everyone Part 1 Introduction

This is the first of several talks on the geology of Iceland. The talks are meant to be accessible for everyone. They should thus be useful for the general visitor to Iceland as well as for earth-science students. In particular, the talks should be of interest to people who not only wish to enjoy Iceland´s unique beauty, but also to appreciate and understand the processes that create that beauty. No geological knowledge is assumed. Technical terms are avoided as much as possible, and those that must be used are explained using non-technical language. The geology of Iceland provides a unique opportunity to observe and understand many of Earth´s natural forces in action. These include those that move the Earth´s tectonic plates, rupture the crust, and generate earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Earthquakes and volcanoes, in turn, provide the paths and the heat sources for hot springs and geysers. These are internal forces which, in combination with external forces, are also responsible for forming the landscape. The external forces relate to the actions of glaciers and rivers that erode the Earth´s surface so as to generate waterfalls, river canyons, and, eventually, mountains.