See the hot springs that amazed scientists: “Unprecedented”

The Geysir region in southern Iceland is a very popular tourist destination. Here are dozens of geysers—hot springs that regularly release a fountain of boiling water and steam—that give the area its name. The Geyser Strokkur spring can erupt up to 35 meters high every few minutes.

However, since the weekend, unusual hypothermia activity has occurred in the area. The hot springs, which had been dormant for so long, now spray water up to two meters into the air.

Smaller hot springs boil intensely. This applies, for example, to the Blesi and Konungshver springs, which are located above Strokkur. However, the “main” geyser, simply called the geyser, has not erupted once or come to life yet.

But no changes were recorded on the Icelandic Meteorological Office's instruments, suggesting the activity is nothing to worry about. However, it is being closely monitored by the Icelandic Meteorological Office and the country's Civil Defense.

“The region is dynamic”

A representative of the Environment Agency confirmed that many geysers in the area have become more powerful. Especially the Strokkur geyser, which experienced unusually powerful eruptions, some of which even pushed rocks along with the water.

-We have meetings to investigate what may have happened. We don't see any seismic activity, but there could be a fault underneath us, causing the water to move. The area is very dynamic and constantly changing, says Waldemar Kristjansson, an expert with the Environment Agency of Iceland.

Specialists from the Environment Agency, the Icelandic Meteorological Office and Civil Defense met yesterday to discuss the unusual activity. The geysers are located along a northeast-southwest trending fault, which may be due to less seismic activity or lower water levels on this fault.

If the water table drops, the boiling point also drops, leading to increased steam production and more active eruptions.

Johanna Malin Skuladóttir, a specialist in natural hazards at the Meteorological Office, stated that this is only a hypothesis at the moment, and investigations are continuing.

Although the reason for the increased activity is still unclear, tourists are advised to be careful and maintain a safe distance from the hot springs.