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Silfra Fissure

Canyons

Silfra Fissure

Highlight • Gorge

Silfra Fissure

Recommended by 126 hikers out of 132

This Highlight is in a protected area

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Þjóðgarðurinn á Þingvöllum

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Location: Iceland

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Best Hikes to Silfra Fissure

4.4

(149)

631

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1. Öxarárfoss Waterfall – Þingvellir National Park loop from Laugarvatn

12.8km

03:19

80m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.4

(41)

208

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2. Öxarárfoss – Flosagjá Fissure loop from Laugarvatn

10.8km

02:49

80m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

4.7

(6)

hikers

3. Flosagjá Fissure – Þingvellir National Park loop from Laugarvatn

15.2km

03:54

70m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Tips

Jule 🌾

July 7, 2017

Also worth a visit for non-divers.

Translated by Google •

Wunderbar Wanderbar

August 19, 2022

The Silfra fissure is formed by the drifting apart of two tectonic plates - the North American and the Eurasian and is growing by a few millimeters every year. The crystal-clear water comes as Scjmrlzwasser from the Langjökull glacier.

Translated by Google •

Sasha Taylor

April 23, 2023

Silfra is a fissure between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates in Thingvellir National Park. The rift was formed in 1789 by the earthquakes accompanying the divergent movement of the two tectonic plates. The diving and snorkeling site at Silfra is right where the two continents meet and drift apart about 2 cm per year. Silfra is the only place in the world where you can dive or snorkel directly in a crack between two tectonic plates.

The earthquakes of 1789 opened up several fissures in the Thingvellir area, but the Silfra fissure cut into the underground spring filled with glacial meltwater from the nearby Langjökull glacier. The water is filtered through porous underground lava for 30-100 years before reaching the spring that feeds into Silfra. The water is therefore extremely pure by the time it reaches the north end of Thingvellir lake and it allows for underwater visibility of over 100 meters in Silfra. The glacial meltwater remains very cold in Silfra, but as fresh water is constantly filling the fissure, the water never freezes and remains 2°C – 4°C year round. The underwater visibility of the water in Silfra will rarely, if ever, be surpassed. Silfra is said to have the clearest water in the world; feel free to have a sip of this pristine water at any point during your dive or snorkel.

As Silfra is right at the crux between the tectontic plates, it is a very “living” dive site in that it is constantly undergoing changes, both large and small. The fissure widens incrementally, but more drastic changes to the depth profile have occurred during earthquakes in which boulders and rocks fall into the crack. This shifting of the earth creates new tunnels, caverns, and underwater terrain.

Source: dive.is

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Elevation 100 m

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Location: Iceland

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View of Þingvallavatn Lake

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Þingvellir National Park Information Boards

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Silfra Fissure

1. Öxarárfoss Waterfall – Þingvellir National Park loop from Laugarvatn

2. Öxarárfoss – Flosagjá Fissure loop from Laugarvatn

3. Flosagjá Fissure – Þingvellir National Park loop from Laugarvatn

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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