Monday, April 14, 2014

COOL PICTURE ... SILFRA FISSURE


Diver swimming between two tectonic plates in Iceland.

According to the one of the responses in the thread commenting on the picture this is ...

Silfra, the fissure between the continents
The Silfra fissure, is known as one of the top dive sites in the world two main reasons.
First, the Silfra fissure is actually a crack between the North American and Eurasian continents, meaning that you dive or snorkel right where the continental plates meet and drift apart about 2cm per year.
Silfra is the only place where one can dive or snorkel directly in the crack between two continental plates.
Secondly, the underwater visibility in the Silfra fissure is over 100 meters, which creates an underwater experience that will rarely, if ever, be surpassed. The reasons for this astounding water clarity are twofold: the water is cold (2°C – 4°C year round ) as it is glacial water from the nearby Langjökull and this water is filtered through porous underground lava for 30-100 years until it reaches the north end of Thingvellir lake, seeping out from underground wells. The Silfra water is as pristine as water can get and you can drink it at anytime during your dive or snorkel.
For some (almost) equally cool pictures of the Silfra fissure click here.

- Mark

Hat tip to Donna for the picture.

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