Strokkur, Geysir

Advantages: A spectactular natural phenomenum not often seen.
Disadvantages: Smell of Sulphur! Icy pathways!

Strokkur translated into English is Churner. It isn't the largest geyser in Iceland, the credit for that lies with the nearby Geysir (meaning gusher), but it is incredibly impressive reaching upto 20 metres in height and is a great deal more relaible spouting every eight minutes or so. Strokkur and Geysir erupt from the geyser fields in the geothermal Haukadalur valley of Southern Iceland. A massive cauldron of bubbling spurting mud, water and steam, ...
...tourist to the country. The two largest of the geysers, Strokkur and Geysir have been included in every Iclandic travel guides published from the 18th century to the present day. It was the Great Geysir that gave the name to all geysers all over the world. Records tell of how Geysir once reached a staggering 70 metres. Today it merely gurgles! For years Icelanders added soap powder to the pool (a kind of Viagra for geysers) to stimulate eruption. ... Read review

Advantages: Incredible Scenery and the Northern Lights
Disadvantages: The occasional smell of fish!

..., to see a geysir. This one is called Strokkur (meaning "the churn") and it erupts around every 15 minutes, although it is a bit haphazard. It's sensible to note wind direction, while we were there a large number of Japanese tourists with cameras at the ready were soaked from head to toe as the eruption of water headed in their direction - it was hilarious and they were all good sports and laughed at themselves! The geothermal pools are created because the earth's crust in Iceland is not as deep as most places in the earth, and as a result the molten magma which is under the crust lies closer to the surface and is able to heat up the underground water in Iceland. Some places this results in geysirs, others there is just steam, which is even used to bake bread in one place in Iceland! Most homes in Iceland use geothermally heated water... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Spectacular scenery, good for the skin
Disadvantages: Can be a bit cold

...boiling fiercly, others simply hand hot. Again, they are loaded with minerals and many are bright blue in colour. The great Geysir, which gave its name to all others, has been inactive for many years and sits serenely overseeing its smaller cousins. There is only one active "spurter", called Strokkur, or little Geysir, which goes with a whoosh every 2-3 minutes. There is a small cafe/gift shop, and a full restaurant nearby to relax end enjoy the scenery.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Stunning views - arguably the best in Iceland
Disadvantages: Cost of the tour/car rental to get there!

...Gullfoss and Geysir form two-thirds of the "Golden Circle" of tourist attractions in South-West Iceland. The third site is Thingvellir National Park, which is a little to the west of the other two. Thingvellir is the ancestral site of the Icelandic parliament, and the area is peppered with sheer cliffs and enormous crevices - clearly indicating its location between the European and North American plates! The area there is stunningly beautiful - Thingvellir itself is located on the edge of the country's largest lake, Thingvallavatn. Geysir is the site of an enormous geyser, the one after which all the spouting hot springs in the world were named. Geysir itself has been dormant for many years, due to all the rocks that used to be dropped it to set it off. Conveniently, Geysir is located just next to another active geyser, Strokkur... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful