End location: Hveragergi (Southwest Iceland)
Route travelled:
In loop using Road 1, Road 30, Road 31 & Road 35 to see the local sights.
Distance travelled: 185 km
Accommodation: Hotel Ork
Sites visited:
Geysir - given its name to all such water spouts around the world. The Great Geysir, which started erupting in 1294, hasn’t performed well for decades. During the 20th century, tourists have poured gravel into its mouth to lower the water level & force an explosion. Soap is used in very special occasions to break the surface tension. It if does go off, it would create a 200ft spume. Geysir suddenly erupted in June 2001 out of the blue, creating a 130ft spume. With periodic activity over several weeks. The cause was earthquakes in southern Iceland creating subterranean pressure.
Stokkur - translates to ‘The Churn’. 66ft spume every 5 minutes. An average of 7 tourists a week are scalded in summer as they test the heat of water in the thermal pools with their hands (& yes I saw a couple of plonkers doing this very same thing!!)
Gulfoss Waterfall - translates to ‘Golden Falls’. Iceland’s best known natural wonder, where the River Hvita tumbles down the double falls, 105ft drop into a 2.5km wide ravine with deafening thunder & an amazing amount of spray. At some points, there are no barriers & I could have literally just reached out to touch the water. It was an awesome sight & sound. Plans have previously been drawn up to damn the Hvita for a hydroelectric project. A local resident threatened to throw herself into the falls if it went ahead. Instead the government bought the falls & turned them into a National Park.
Trip notes: Took a good ½ hour to get the pictures/video of Geysir because every time it went off, I jumped & took a picture of the sky. You can physically see the water level drop after the geysir explodes & then the water begins to bubble just before exploding. Quite spectacular so the great geysir must be unbelievable.
Photo notes: 352 - 378
Geysir geothermal area
Litli Geysir
Strokkur sign
Edge of the original Geysir & sign
Warning sign
Strokkur geysir in action
Edge of the original Geysir
Blesi sign
Blesi thermal pool
Strokkur geysir in action
Strokkur geysir warming up
Strokkur geysir in action
Troll outside Geysir shop
Gulfoss Waterfall ‘Golden Falls’
Gulfoss Waterfall
Gulfoss Waterfall
Gulfoss Waterfall
Gulfoss Waterfall
Gulfoss Waterfall
Gulfoss Waterfall
Gulfoss Waterfall
Gulfoss Waterfall
Gulfoss Waterfall
Me at Gulfoss Waterfall
What I could have done with
View of Hveragerdi
Hotel Ork
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