Geysir facts for kids

The erupting Great Geysir

Geysir (also known as The Great Geysir) is a very famous hot spring in Iceland. This amazing natural wonder shoots boiling water high into the air! In fact, the English word "geyser" comes from the name of this very hot spring. Geysir is one of the oldest known geysers in the world.

What is Geysir?
Where is Geysir Located?
How Often Does Geysir Erupt?
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What is Geysir?

A geyser is a special type of hot spring. It sends out a powerful burst of hot water and steam. This happens because of heat from deep inside the Earth. Water underground gets very hot and builds up pressure. When the pressure is too much, the water explodes upwards.

Where is Geysir Located?

Geysir is found in a valley called Haukadalur in Iceland. This area is known for its many hot springs and geysers. You can find Geysir on the side of a hill named Laugarfjall. Another active geyser, Strokkur, is very close by. It is only about 400 metres south of Geysir.

How Often Does Geysir Erupt?

When Geysir erupts, it can send boiling water up to 60 metres (about 200 feet) into the sky! That's as tall as a 20-story building! However, Geysir does not erupt very often. Sometimes, it can go for years without erupting at all. This makes seeing an eruption from Geysir a very special event.