The Mid-Atlantic Ridge cuts Iceland into two parts that are drifting away from each other at a rate of 2 cm per year. Geothermal areas in Iceland are divided into high and low temperature depending on the nature of the geothermal system. The high-temperature areas are within the volcanic zone and the low-temperature ones outside. Geysir is a high-temperature geothermal area with a base temperature of around 250° C / 482° F.
The Geysir geothermal area is approximately 3 km2 at the surface. Temperatures of the hot springs are up to 100° C / 212° F and care is needed when inspecting them.
Geysir geyser
The only word of Icelandic that has come into common world-wide use is “geyser,” which comes from the name of a major geyser: Geysir. Geysir is no longer a frequent erupter. It erupts after earthquakes; its last eruption periods were 1896–1930 and 2000, when it erupted every 4–8 min. and reached 70–80 meters.
Strokkur
Strokkur has regular eruptions every 8–10 min. that reach 25–35 meters.
The walk out
