Geysers in Iceland spout due to geothermal activity. When underground water is heated by magma, it turns into steam which, under pressure, eventually is expelled through the ground, creating spectacular geysers.
Iceland is an island born right at the meeting point of two major tectonic plates: the North American plate on one side and the Eurasian plate on the other. These two plates are slowly but surely moving apart, by about two centimeters per year. As a result, a huge fault runs through the entire island from northeast to southwest. This creates a very special geological environment, full of cracks, volcanoes, and porous rocks. This unique structure allows water to easily seep underground, where it meets the intense heat of the depths, giving rise to the famous Icelandic geysers.
In Iceland, precipitation, snow, and glaciers continuously bring large amounts of water that easily seep into the porous and fractured soil. This water accumulates underground, forming significant pockets of groundwater. As the Icelandic crust is particularly thin, the intense heat from the magma below warms these natural reservoirs. This results in large "natural kettles" where the water gradually becomes very hot, sometimes nearing or even exceeding its boiling point. This heated underground water is the essential raw material for geysers. Without this regular abundance of warmed groundwater, no Icelandic geyser could erupt as it does.
Beneath the surface, the groundwater is subjected to high pressure caused by the surrounding rock, allowing it to heat up without immediately turning into steam, even when it reaches its classic boiling point. But as it gradually moves towards the surface, the pressure suddenly decreases. The result: the previously liquid water undergoes a sudden boiling, violently turning into steam. This steam is released abruptly, expelling the still-liquid water located just above it, resulting in a spectacular eruption. It all comes down to this rapid change in pressure, which acts as a true trigger for the eruption.
Iceland is riddled with faults and fissures, large breaks in the rock layers caused by tectonic plate movements. These openings serve as true conduits for heated groundwater. When this hot water rises to the surface, it preferentially follows these fissures, as they are the path of least resistance. Without these faults, the water would have a much harder time rising, and the spectacular eruptions we love would not be nearly as frequent or impressive.
Iceland is situated right on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an area where two large tectonic plates are slowly drifting apart. Just below, a hotspot regularly pumps large bursts of heat from the Earth's mantle to the surface. The result: a lot of very hot rocks, regularly active volcanoes, and therefore enormous heat that warms the groundwater. Without this constant volcanic activity generously warming the entire underground region, no Icelandic geyser could spectacularly shoot its boiling water to the surface.
The word 'geyser' comes from the Icelandic name 'Geysir', which is derived from the Icelandic verb 'geysa', meaning 'to gush' or 'to spout violently'. This term is now used worldwide to describe this exceptional natural phenomenon.
Iceland derives about 90% of its domestic heating directly from geothermal sources, thus demonstrating a perfect sustainable use of its unique geology.
The Strokkur geyser, located in Iceland, is one of the most active geysers in the world. It erupts hot water every 5 to 10 minutes, reaching heights of up to 30 meters!
Geysers can evolve or even disappear over time due to local geological changes. The famous Icelandic Geysir has experienced periods of total inactivity lasting decades before temporarily becoming active again after earthquakes.
The main difference lies in their activity: a classic hot spring constantly and calmly releases its warm water to the surface without significant jets, whereas a geyser accumulates extremely hot water underground under pressure and periodically erupts in a spectacular jet.
Some geysers, like Strokkur in Iceland, are relatively regular and predictable, with an eruption occurring every 5 to 10 minutes. However, it remains impossible to accurately predict the exact time of an eruption for the majority of geysers due to underground variations in temperature and pressure.
The Strokkur geyser, located in the Haukadalur valley, is the most easily observable and accessible. It erupts approximately every 5 to 10 minutes, producing water jets that can reach heights of up to 20 meters. The entire Haukadalur valley, including the Geysir geothermal area, is highly appreciated by tourists.
Yes, approaching a geothermal area poses dangers of extremely hot water and scalding steam. It is important to always stick to marked trails and follow the safety guidelines on information signs to avoid any accidents or injuries.
Absolutely, earthquakes can often alter the behavior of geysers by opening new underground pathways or temporarily closing existing conduits. This can lead to changes in the eruption frequency or even permanently halt the activity of certain geysers.
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