Great Geysir

Great Geysir is a hot spring in Haukadalur Valley in Bláskógabyggð, Iceland, that sends columns of boiling water up to 60 meters (about 200 feet) high through thermal activity. The geothermal field around it holds about thirty different thermal features, including fumaroles that release steam and sulfurous gases.

The first known written mention dates from 1647, when travelers described the hot springs of the valley. An earthquake in 1896 caused increased eruptions that sent water columns as high as 80 meters (about 260 feet) into the air.

The Icelandic verb geysa means to gush or spurt, and this hot spring gave its name to all similar formations around the world. Visitors today mostly watch the nearby Strokkur, which regularly throws water columns into the air, while the great spring itself erupts only rarely.

The geothermal area is freely accessible all year round and sits about a two-hour drive from Reykjavík. The paths around the hot springs are marked, but the stones can become slippery when wet.

The fumaroles leave yellow sulfur deposits on the rocks around the springs, which can appear orange or greenish depending on the light. Some thermal springs form shallow pools of turquoise water that, despite the appealing color, are close to boiling temperature.