{"id":366,"date":"2021-05-05T17:00:32","date_gmt":"2021-05-05T17:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/icelandaurora.com\/tours\/?p=366"},"modified":"2023-11-21T19:16:58","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T19:16:58","slug":"geysir-the-geyser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.icelandaurora.com\/archive-phototours\/geysir-the-geyser\/","title":{"rendered":"Geysir The Geyser – Central Iceland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To Gush or not to Gush<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Geysir is a hot location in South Iceland with many active hot springs and geysers. The name of this location actually gave us the word \u2018Geyser\u2019. In Icelandic, \u2018Geysir\u2019 means \u2018to gush\u2019\u2026 and indeed, that is what they do. This compelling attraction is only a couple of hours drive from Reykjavik, so Geysir is a great choice for a day trip.\u00a0 Geysers are formed when ground water seeps into cracks and tubes that run deep in rhyolitic rocks.\u00a0 If Magma is close to the surface, the water in the deeper tubes gets super heated until it has to release energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Strokkur<\/a>
1\/2000-second shutter to catch flying droplets. Click to order a print!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Great Geysir<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Geysir the Geyser used to be the star attraction. The “Great Geysir\u2019 rarely spouts these days. When it does, it is among the largest geyser eruptions in the world.\u00a0 It now happens less than once a year, and you would be extremely lucky to see it. The eruption of Geysir used to be a regular show. Soap powder was able to wake the geyser.\u00a0 This meant you could trigger an eruption at will.\u00a0 This practice was reserved for important visitors until Geysir finally quit.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was believed that a local earthquake could have changed the shape of the geyser and that another earthquake could bring it back to life.  There is a story, more than 100 years old, that once a cow fell into the large geyser and was ejected 10 minutes later, fully cooked.  This legendary incident is reported in Sabine Baring-Gould<\/a>\u2018s book \u2018Iceland\u2019 (1863).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Bubble<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Str\u00f6kkur is considered to be the Great Geysir\u2019s little brother.\u00a0 Str\u00f6kkur eruptions are frequent and occur around every 15 minutes. The photo challenge is to either capture the blue bubble which occurs just before eruption or to capture the full height of a large eruption. Str\u00f6kkur eruptions are very brief, lasting just a second or so. The scene just after the eruption is just a misty veil of steam. Camera settings to capture and freeze the movement are usually very fast shutter speeds of at least 1\/125, but sometimes I have experimented with slower shutters to achieve slightly more original shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Strokkur
Blue Bubble in Burst mode. Canon EF 135mm Lens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Geysir is often the coldest spot in Iceland, as Arctic winds blow straight over the glaciers in Iceland\u2019s interior. The area is very close to Gullfoss and has a hotel, restaurant, and gift shop (selling dead animal fur, ugh!) that are open during regular hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Geysir\"
Blue Geothermal Pool and winter sun. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photo tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Photo tips: Use a wide lens (17\u201324 mm) to shoot the full Geysir eruption. Use a short lens (70\u2013100 mm) to shoot the blue bubble. Adjust iso to 200\u2013400 to get a fast shutter. Capture the action. Try shooting into the sun to get dramatic back lighting; don\u2019t forget to compensate because the eruption will introduce a lot more white into the scene.\u00a0 On the other hand, it will block out the sun that is in your frame.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry about the crowds; you won’t see them when Str\u00f6kkur erupts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Strokkur
Strokkur with a one-second exposure.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Geysir Safety <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t try to test the temperature of the water in the hot springs.\u00a0 The tiny streams usually have cold water in them, but the water in the hot springs can scold or even cook your skin.\u00a0 Don\u2019t stand downwind of the geyser.\u00a0 The steam tells you the wind direction, so if the steam is coming at you, make sure you are not too close to Str\u00f6kkur.\u00a0 An eruption will give you a lovely, warm shower.\u00a0 This sounds nice, but in freezing temperatures, your wet clothes could give you hypothermia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to stay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There is a campsite right next to Geysir, but this will be heavily booked. There is another campsite just 15 minutes away near Faxifoss waterfall<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Sponsored<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geysir Hotels<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Use the sponsored links below to book a hotel close to Geysir and Gullfoss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n