Iceland is a special place to learn about environmental issues and climate change. First, northern climates are strongly affected by climate change and global warming, because the earth is warming three times as fast in the Arctic as in the rest of the world. Climate change and global warming in the Arctic have led to many prominent issues, including melting glaciers, warming oceans and changing weather patterns.
Iceland's largest glacier is Vatnajökull, and it covers about eight percent of the island. Vatnajökull glacier is melting rapidly, causing large pieces of the glacier to break off into icebergs that drift out into the sea. Glacier melt due to global warming is contributing to a rise in global sea levels.
Iceland has many unique geological aspects, too. For example, it is known for its basalt columns, black sand beaches and geysers. Many of Iceland's geological wonders are powered by the separation of the island's two main tectonic plates. The Eurasian and North American tectonic plates move apart by about a few centimeters every year. This separation causes high amounts of volcanic activity on the island. Different volcanic eruptions that have happened in Iceland’s past have left many geological landmarks that can be seen today.
