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It is not without reason that Iceland is sometimes described as a land of contrasts, both natural and social. Though situated in the North Atlantic, on the edge of the Arctic Circle, the island is warmed by the Gulf Stream, thus enjoying a much milder climate than one would expect at such a northerly latitude. The Mid-Atlantic ridge runs from north to south through the middle of Iceland and marks the juncture of two tectonic plates of the earth's crust. This ridge is geologically unstable and has been the site of frequent volcanic outbursts, causing the highest density of thermal activity to be found in any country of the world. But despite these fiery forces beneath its surface, the island remains capped by Europe's largest glaciers.