Great Geysir, Hot spring in Haukadalur Valley, Iceland
The Great Geysir releases columns of boiling water reaching heights of 60 meters through thermal activity in the Haukadalur geothermal field.
First documented in 1647, the Great Geysir experienced increased activity following an 1896 earthquake that generated eruptions reaching 80 meters high.
The term geyser originates from the Icelandic verb geysa, which means to gush, and this natural formation became the namesake for similar springs worldwide.
Located within a two-hour drive from Reykjavik, the site offers free year-round access and includes the frequently erupting Strokkur geyser nearby.
The geothermal area contains thirty distinct thermal features, including fumaroles that create yellow sulfuric deposits on surrounding rocks.
Location: Bláskógabyggð
Part of: Geysir geothermal field
GPS coordinates: 64.31384,-20.29951
Latest update: November 13, 2025 17:00
Geysers represent some of the most visible expressions of hydrothermal activity, occurring where underground water reservoirs are heated by magmatic sources. Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming holds more than half of the world's known geysers, including Old Faithful with its reliable eruptions every 90 minutes and Steamboat, the tallest active geyser on Earth. Iceland offers the Haukadalur Valley, home to the namesake Geysir and Strokkur, which erupts every few minutes. The high plateau of El Tatio in Chile sits at 14,100 feet (4,300 meters) and forms the highest elevation geyser field in the world. Other notable locations include the Whakarewarewa thermal area in Rotorua on New Zealand's North Island, where the Pohutu geyser performs regularly, and the Valley of Geysers in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. These sites demonstrate the ongoing volcanic activity beneath the Earth's surface and attract visitors interested in observing natural thermal phenomena. Eruption patterns vary in frequency and intensity, with some geysers following predictable schedules while others remain irregular.
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Hekla
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Strokkur
142 m
Strokkur
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Háifoss
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Skjaldbreiður
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Faxi
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Þjóðveldisbærinn Stöng
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Hjálparfoss
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Skálholt church
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Þjófafoss
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Geysir geothermal field
319 m
Búrfell
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Þjóðveldisbærinn Stöng
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Þórisjökull
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Prestahnúkur
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Hlöðufell
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Brúarfoss
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Geitlandsjökull
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Hestfjall
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Hrafnabjörg
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Lyngdalsheiði
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Vörðufell
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Tintron
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Tröllkonuhlaup
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Mosfellskirkja
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Iðubrú
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A beautiful site where one patiently waits for the Geyser to emerge from its stupor. Very impressive!
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