Prior to coming here, the only bridge I had ever seen which linked two continents was the one across the Bosphorus. The Icelandic one is on a more modest scale and has a largely symbolic significance. It draws attention to the fact that this part of Iceland sits directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the area where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
The two plates are slowly drifting apart, creating long fissures due to the stresses created by the process. The bridge was built across one such fissure.
There are several information boards. The one shown below is at the North American end of the bridge. It is headed ‘Welcome to the North American Plate’. There is an equivalent sign on the Eurasian side.
The bridge is situated on Route 425, not far from Keflavik airport. A short drive onwards in a southerly direction takes you to the Gunnuvher geothermal springs.
There are no admission charges for either.
That’s about the best defined rift I’ve ever seen!!
The area was in the news today, because of a spectacular lava eruption:https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-66161173