When American travel blogger Stephanie Mischo was searching for places to visit in Iceland, she stumbled upon the Silfra fissure in Thingvellir National Park and did not want to miss the opportunity to explore it. This site offers an extraordinary adventure that combines geological wonders, underwater magic, and environmental awareness. Mischo said in an interview with CNN Arabic that it is "the only place in the world where you can dive directly between two tectonic plates."
**How It Formed**
The Silfra fissure, located between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, is considered one of the top 5 diving sites in the world, according to the "Guide to Iceland" website. Here, the continents meet and drift apart at a rate of 2 centimeters annually. The website for the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, also known as PADI, explained that the fissure was formed in 1789 as a result of earthquakes associated with divergent tectonic drift. During that time, the earthquakes opened many cracks in the Thingvellir area, but the Silfra fissure cut through an underground spring filled with glacial meltwater from the nearby Langjökull glacier. The water is filtered through porous volcanic rock underground for 30 to 100 years before reaching the spring that feeds the Silfra fissure.
**Can You Drink It?**
Tour guides encouraged the American travel blogger to remove her diving mask and experience the turquoise water, to which she responded: "The purity of the water is absolutely stunning, and visibility can extend to over 330 feet," explaining that the experience of exploring the Icelandic fissure was unlike any other she had. The scenes above garnered admiration from many followers of the American travel blogger on Instagram. Many were surprised to find such a location, prompting some to add it to their list of places they want to visit. The place might be a little intimidating for people with claustrophobia. Therefore, Mischo advises everyone to prepare themselves mentally, as the idea of diving can be uncomfortable at first, but it is worth the experience.
