The Great Geysir, Iceland
Iceland may not have bequeathed many worlds to the world, but one that surely springs to mind is ‘geyser’. Throughout the world geyser is used to describe any hot spring that periodically ejects a column of steaming water into the air. In Iceland, however, it refers to just one: the Great Geysir.
The first record of the Great Geysir dates back to 1294. After a powerful earthquake had shaken the western lowland in the Haudakalur valley, hot spring formed, some of which began to spout. Over the centuries more earthquakes shook the valley and the power of the of one its spouting springs-the Great Geysir-became legend.
Sadly, in recent times the Great Geysir’s powers waned. There was hope that it might reawaken when, on Iceland’s national holiday, 17 June 2000, a quake that measured 6.5 on the Richter scale hit the area. But it was not to be.
For centuries that cause of the Great Geysir’s steamy outbursts was thought to be supernatural. And although today the science is well understood, it is difficult to watch a geyser erupt without feeling a connection with a power that is as old as earth itself.
At Geysir, there is water filled natural ‘pipe’ that runs over 20 m (65 ft) under ground. At this depth pressure from above allows the water to reach 120°C (248 °F) without boiling. Higher up the pipe. This then causes a chain reaction. The rapid reduction in pressure on the super-heated water below results in it explosively turning into steam, sending a water then slowly trickles back into the pipe and the process begins again.
Laki
Laki, or Lakagigar, which means ‘the craters of Laki’, is a huge volcanic fissure that lies southeast of the Vatnajokull glacier – the largest glacier in Europe. The fissure is itself some 25 km (16 mi) long, and punctuated by around 100 m (330 ft) high. Resembling a poorly healed wound, the ragged scar runs southwest to northeast through a desolate, otherwordly landscape, composed of reddish grey basalt lava soften only by a green patina of moss and grey.
In a country not short of volcanic spectacle, Laki’s peacefully dormant craters remain powerfully attractive. For Laki has anexplosive past whose infamy is indelibly etched into Iceland memory.
A lethal mixture of fluorine and sulphur dioxide, this noxious cloud killed over 50 per cent of the livestock in Iceland. A terrible famine then followed in which around 10.000 Icelanders starved – around a fifth of the population. The tragedy was of such proportions that the Danish government, which at the time administered Iceland, even planned the evacuation of the remaining population of Jutland.
Due to its isolated location, and the nature of the terrain and visit to Laki needs to be well planned. The lava fields are, however, relatively aesy to traverse on foot, while the more ambitious can go by horse or mountain bike. Whatever your mode of transport, the trip will reward you with some outstanding scenery and a special sense of unity both with the creative forces of planet earth and the history of the Icelandic people.
Read full article: Natural Wonders of The World: The Great Geysir and Laki, Iceland
