Iceland, Land of Contradiction: Southwest Iceland: Geysir 21 May

21st May 2008
Geysir

We finally check into the hotel at Geysir at 3pm. Have a quick lunch of bread and ham that we pick up from a supermarket along the way and walk over to Geysir, which is on the other side of the main road.

Geysir

Geysir is the original spouting hot spring - all the others around the world are named after it. It is the first geyser ever described in a printed source and the earliest geyser known to Europeans, with the oldest accounts date back to 1294. The English word geyser (a spouting hot spring) derives from Geysir.

Walking into the geothermal area, admission is free

This is the legendary Geysir. Eruptions at Geysir can hurl boiling water up to 70 metres in the air. It has stopped altogether for years despite it is still fuming. Only an earthquake will be able to wake it up. For safety reasons, visitors are forbidden to get close to it.

Strokkur

This is probably the most reliable geyser in the world. It spouts up boiling water to 35m at the interval of 4-8 mins. It has a long history of activity, beginning in 1789, after an earthquake unblocked the plumbing system of the geyser.

Visitors waiting patiently for the next spouting

Water bubbles forming

Water bubbles break

Strokkur erupts

Waters rushes back to the fissure

We walked up the little hill nearby to catch the full view of Strokkur's eruption and the whole geothermal area.

The pool at the extreme left is Geysir. The buildings on the right is the hotel where we stay for the night.

Full view of the spectacular Strokkur's eruption

Geysir and Strokkur are surrounded by smaller springs.

The colours of the smaller springs are caused by algae and mineral deposits.

Konungshver (The King's Hot Spring)

Blesi

Litli

The steaming vents of the Geysir area:

Dine In @ Hotel Geysir

We run out of rations and this left us with no choice but to eat at the hotel's restaurant as the Geysir area is remote. The food is just average. Total bill: IR7,150 (S$143). It's expensive for two considering we order a main course (Fish & Chips and a Sandwich) and desserts each.

Exterior of restaurant

'Courtyard' of the restaurant, where they serve breakfast and lunch buffet

Dining area. We are one of the earliest guests for dinner at 7pm. Not many people stay here during this offpeak season and many tourists merely make a day trip to the Geysir.