Silfra – Between Two Continents

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. The Silfra fissure is located in the Thingvallavatn Lake in Thingvellir National Park. As Silfra is a part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The crystal clear waters that flow through it are the result of an incredible natural slow-filtration process. Here, the meltwaters from the Langjökull glacier are constantly percolating through the porous lava fields of the surrounding landscape, a process that can take a single drop of water up to a century to reach the fissure. The result is pure glacial water with virtually limitless visibility.

silfra Silfra Between Two Continents