Mid-Atlantic Ridge: a north-south suboceanic ridge in the Atlantic Ocean from Iceland to Antarctica, shown by plate tectonics to be the axis along which North America has split away from Eurasia. (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mid-atlantic-ridge)
– Importance: Iceland’s active volcanism and geothermal energy can be attributed to the presence of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge running through the nation.

Geyser: a vent in Earth’s surface that periodically ejects a column of hot water and steam. (https://geology.com/articles/geyser.shtml)
– Importance: A classic example of the phenomena that stem from Iceland’s extremely active volcanism and abundance of water.

Rhyolite mountain: Colourful mountain ranges comprised of rhyolite, which is an igneous, volcanic rock, of a felsic (silica-rich) composition.
– Importance: Examples of rhyolite mountains in Iceland include the Kerlingarfjöll mountain range and the Landmannalaugar mountains, which are both popular tourist attractions for hiking.

Table mountain: a flat-topped mountain often forming a prominent landmark. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Mountain)
– Importance: The national mountain of Iceland is a table mountain named Herdubreid located in the deserted lava field of Odadahraun.

Volcanic crater: a large crater caused by the violent explosion of a volcano that collapses into a depression. (https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/volcanic%20crater)
– Importance: The Kerid crater lake is an accumulation of water in a large volcanic crater; see section LOCAL GEOLOGY.

Geothermal heat: clean and sustainable heat from the Earth, specifically from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth’s surface, and down even deeper to the extremely high temperatures of molten rock called magma. (https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/geothermal-energy/tech.html)
– Importance: Geothermal heat stems from geothermal energy, which powers 87% of Iceland’s heating and hot water purposes; see section LOCAL GEOLOGY & EARTH RESOURCES.

Palagonite: an alteration product from the interaction of water with volcanic glass of chemical composition similar to basalt. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palagonite)
– Importance: Three million years ago during the colder period of the Ice Age, Iceland’s volcanic activity under the ice produced lots of volcanic tuff (palagonite); see section TECTONIC/GEOLOGIC HISTORY.

Pumice: a very light and porous volcanic rock formed when a gas-rich froth of glassy lava solidifies rapidly. (Google Dictionary)
– Importance: Residue from volcanism, pumice in Iceland is often used to scrub one’s heels and feet after a foot bath.

Glacial outburst: floods that occur from an unstable natural dam formed from a glacial retreat. (https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Glacial_lake_outburst_flood)
– Importance: Glacial outburst, also known as Jokulhlaup, is a more common occurrence in Iceland than anywhere else due to the country’s sensitivity to erosion, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, as well as its abundance of glaciers; see section GEOLOGIC ISSUES.

Fjord: a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs, as in Norway and Iceland, typically formed by submergence of a glaciated valley. (Google Dictionary)
– Importance: Many of Iceland’s fjords have been carved out by centuries of glacial activity; see section TECTONIC/GEOLOGIC HISTORY.