PIPE DREAM.

ISLANDS; GEOTHERMAL resources; PLATE tectonics; EARTH'S mantle; HEAT

The article presents information on the islands of Iceland. Iceland is one of the world's richest sources of geothermal energy--power generated from Earth's internal heat. It lies at the northern tip of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an underwater mountain range that snakes all the way down the Atlantic Ocean along a margin between adjoining tectonic plates. Consequently, more heat from Earth's mantle reaches the surface. Iceland exploits the mantle's heat to generate huge amounts of geothermal energy. Because Iceland is relatively new as a landmass, its crust is very thin. Consequently, more heat from Earth's mantle reaches the surface. Iceland exploits the mantle's heat to generate huge amounts of geothermal energy.