A video of a California woman exploring a place where you can physically walk between two shifting tectonic plates has captivated viewers on TikTok.
The clip of the rare geological wonder, which was shot at Iceland's Thingvellir National Park, was shared by Brooke Coleman (@enroutelifestylee), a 35-year-old television and film stuntwoman based in Los Angeles.
The video, taken on January 23, shows people walking along a designated path between two towering rock formations at Thingvellir National Park. A note across the clip reads: "POV [point of view]: Walking through the only places on Earth where you can step between two tectonic plates."
The area featured in the video is the Almannagjá Gorge, a dramatic fissure created by the tectonic separation of the North American and Eurasian plates. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a massive underwater volcanic mountain range, runs directly through Iceland, making it one of the few places in the world where this geological feature is visible on land.
In an interview with Newsweek, Coleman explained the significance of walking through the gorge.
"In the video, you'll see me walking through Almannagjá Gorge, which is the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This area is one of the most active and visible places on Earth where two tectonic plates meet, so it's incredibly unique to be physically standing in the gap," Coleman told Newsweek.
She added that these two plates are slowly drifting apart at a rate of about two centimeters per year, and over time, this movement has dramatically reshaped the landscape, leaving behind deep cracks and striking rock formations.
A UNESCO-Protected Natural Wonder
Thingvellir National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rugged beauty, historic significance and geological importance. According to UNESCO, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR), which divides the North American and Eurasian Plates, is one of the largest geological structures on Earth.
"The MAR separates the North American Plate from the Eurasian Plate in the North Atlantic, and the South American Plate from the African Plate in the South Atlantic. These plates are still moving apart, so the Atlantic is growing at the ridge, at a rate of about 2.5 cm per year in an east-west direction," UNESCO explains.
While most of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge lies deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean, Iceland is one of the rare locations where it rises above sea level, making it a geological hotspot for travelers and researchers alike.
A 'Surreal' Experience
The caption on the TikTok video reads: "New bucket list experience unlocked. You can't miss this if you go to Iceland!!!"
Though the sight of the massive rift between two tectonic plates might seem daunting, walking through it is a relatively easy experience.
Coleman told Newsweek that the walk through the tectonic plates takes about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on pace and exploration.
"The terrain is relatively easy to navigate, with designated paths for visitors," she said. "It's a pretty unique experience to physically walk between two tectonic plates, so it's definitely worth taking your time and soaking in the surroundings."
While walking along the path, visitors are surrounded by towering rock formations, which tell the story of thousands of years of shifting geological forces.
"The ground beneath my feet is constantly shifting as these plates move, though it's not something you'd feel in real-time—it's more evident in the cracks and fractures along the ground," Coleman explained.
Describing the experience as "magical," she said, "it's pretty surreal to walk between two major pieces of Earth's crust that are drifting in different directions."
Coleman admitted that this site wasn't originally on her travel bucket list—she discovered it just before her trip while researching things to do in the country.
"I actually just learned about it right before I left for my Iceland trip. I like to do as much research as I can on a place before I go so I know what activities to do and what to check out," she said.
The park is "rich in both geological and cultural history," Coleman said. "There's so much more to explore in Thingvellir" in addition to the tectonic plates, she noted, from the Silfra Fissure, where you can dive between the North American and Eurasian plates, to the Thingvallavatn, which is the largest natural lake in Iceland.
Viewers on TikTok were inspired by the footage of the tectonic plates.
Clear Sky Resorts said: "Iceland is so interesting!"
Md Milon Rana commented: "My friend I want to go here."
Mannythedognanny wrote: "Always a must see on any tour."
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