Haukadalur, south Iceland
The Haukadalur geothermal area is located in south west Iceland to the north east of the Reykjanes peninsula and Reykjavík. Here can be seen some of the most famous sights of Iceland: the geysers and other geothermal features which have developed on the Laugarfjall rhyolitic dome.
The biggest geysers of Haukadalur are Strokkur and Geysir. There are also more than 40 other hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles nearby.
The oldest accounts of hot springs at Haukadalur date back to 1294 when earthquakes in the area caused significant changes in the local neighbouring landscape creating several new hot springs. Changes in the activity of Geysir and the surrounding geysers are still strongly related to earthquake activity.
Strokkur is a fountain geyser and is one of Iceland's most famous geysers. It is very dependable and erupts about every 5 to 10 minutes with boiling water reaching a height of 50 to 65 feet and sometimes up to 130 feet.
Geysir, sometimes known as The Great Geysir, was the first geyser described in a printed source in the 18th century and the first known to modern Europeans. Since unusual natural phenomena were of high interest to society during the Age of Enlightenment, the term became popular and has been used for similar hydrothermal features worldwide since then. The English word geyser derives from Geysir whilst Geysir itself is derived from the Icelandic verb geysa ("to gush"). Eruptions at Geysir can hurl boiling water up to 230 feet in the air but eruptions are now very infrequent and have in the past stopped altogether for years at a time.
The Haukadalur geothermal area, usually referred to as Geysir, is popular with tourists and, together with the magnificent waterfall at Gulfoss and Þingvellir, it is part of a group of the most famous sights of Iceland known as the "Golden Circle".
Date: 7th June 2015
Location: geothermal spring at Haukadalur
The biggest geysers of Haukadalur are Strokkur and Geysir. There are also more than 40 other hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles nearby.
The oldest accounts of hot springs at Haukadalur date back to 1294 when earthquakes in the area caused significant changes in the local neighbouring landscape creating several new hot springs. Changes in the activity of Geysir and the surrounding geysers are still strongly related to earthquake activity.
Strokkur is a fountain geyser and is one of Iceland's most famous geysers. It is very dependable and erupts about every 5 to 10 minutes with boiling water reaching a height of 50 to 65 feet and sometimes up to 130 feet.
Geysir, sometimes known as The Great Geysir, was the first geyser described in a printed source in the 18th century and the first known to modern Europeans. Since unusual natural phenomena were of high interest to society during the Age of Enlightenment, the term became popular and has been used for similar hydrothermal features worldwide since then. The English word geyser derives from Geysir whilst Geysir itself is derived from the Icelandic verb geysa ("to gush"). Eruptions at Geysir can hurl boiling water up to 230 feet in the air but eruptions are now very infrequent and have in the past stopped altogether for years at a time.
The Haukadalur geothermal area, usually referred to as Geysir, is popular with tourists and, together with the magnificent waterfall at Gulfoss and Þingvellir, it is part of a group of the most famous sights of Iceland known as the "Golden Circle".
Date: 7th June 2015
Location: geothermal spring at Haukadalur
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Also in: South Iceland
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