Northern Europe
What tectonic plate is Iceland on?
Iceland spans 2 tectonic plates: the North American Plate (56%) and the Eurasian Plate (44%).
- Plates
- 2
- M6.5+ quakes since 1900
- 5
- Holocene volcanoes
- 35
- Land area
- 101,161 km²
Plates under Iceland
Share of Iceland's land area on each plate (PB2002 model, Natural Earth outlines).
Plate boundaries
A plate boundary runs through or along Iceland: the North American-Eurasian boundary (divergent, about 1.5 cm/yr).
- North American and Eurasian: divergent, 1.5 cm/yr
Earthquakes in Iceland
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Iceland. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 5 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country.
| Earthquake | Magnitude | Year | Depth | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 km N of Norðurþing, Iceland | M7.0 | 1910 | 10 km | Eurasian |
| 41 km W of Siglufjörður, Iceland | M6.9 | 1963 | 10 km | North American |
| 67 km E of Selfoss, Iceland | M6.8 | 1912 | 15 km | North American |
| 25 km E of Selfoss, Iceland | M6.5 | 2000 | 10 km | Eurasian |
| 12 km ENE of Selfoss, Iceland | M6.5 | 2000 | 10 km | Eurasian |
Volcanoes in Iceland
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 35 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in Iceland, the 9th most of any country.
- Reykjanes Crater rows · 140 m Last eruption 2025
- Fagradalsfjall Fissure vent · 250 m Last eruption 2023
- Bardarbunga Stratovolcano · 2,000 m Last eruption 2015
- Grimsvotn Caldera · 1,719 m Last eruption 2011
- Eyjafjallajokull Stratovolcano · 1,651 m Last eruption 2010
- Hekla Stratovolcano · 1,490 m Last eruption 2000
- Krafla Caldera · 800 m Last eruption 1984
- Vestmannaeyjar Fissure vent(s) · 283 m Last eruption 1973
Frequently asked questions
What tectonic plate is Iceland on?
Iceland spans 2 tectonic plates: the North American Plate (56%) and the Eurasian Plate (44%).
Is Iceland on a plate boundary?
A plate boundary runs through or along Iceland: the North American-Eurasian boundary (divergent, about 1.5 cm/yr).
Does Iceland get earthquakes?
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Iceland. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 5 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country. The largest was the M7.0 79 km N of Norðurþing, Iceland in 1910.
Are there volcanoes in Iceland?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 35 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in Iceland, the 9th most of any country.