Next stop: Geysir -- the original erupting hot spring. In Iceland, every erupting hot spring gets its own unique name -- and Geysir was the first & most famous. The English word "geyser" originates from this -- which is why at home we call all erupting hot springs "geysers". Steam and hot water flow from the ground all over this area, and there is a strong smell of sulfur in the air (which is why this area is also the source of the original "who farted" joke [*1, source needed]). Unfortunately, Geysir became dormant in 1930, and no longer erupts -- except sometimes after an earthquake. But the nearby Strokkur geyser has a very regular schedule every 5-10 minutes (pictured). |