Iceland has many unique environments, such as active volcanoes and melting glaciers. The environment in Iceland is unlike anywhere else in the world and provides resources to many people. However, it is challenging to live in these environments at times.
Iceland lies across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are slowly pushing away from one another. This underground action causes magma to rise closer to the surface of the Earth. And that, in turn, makes Iceland geothermally active. It forms volcanoes, causes earthquakes, and creates extraordinary natural formations, such as sprouting geysers and bubbling mudpots.
Geothermal energy powers the majority of Iceland. This allows for cheap power, which leads to the existence of more industries that require high amounts of energy, such as aluminum smelting. The many waterfalls in Iceland also produce energy for the country through hydropower. Water in Iceland is also plentiful and clean, due to the glaciers in the country and the natural filtration system of lava rocks. Additionally, the ocean around Iceland has many fish, which makes fishing important to Iceland's economy and identity as a nation.
