Geysir Hot Spring area - Iceland

Did you know that all of the world's spouting hot springs are named after Geysir in Iceland.
All around the world the word  “geysir” or “geyser”is the name of a hot spouting volcanic spring. In  Icelandic,however it refers most specifically to a single geyser. In fact there is only one real Geysir and that can be found in south-west Iceland.

In winter the geysir area is pretty bleak as you can see.

Geysirs steam for most of the time and then depending on the timing the hot water spouts out at different times. This Geysir geysir spouted quite frequently and we saw it spout a few times while we were walking around the geysir area.

The steaming geysir , then it bubbled then spouted.

I loved the steaming atmosphere and seeing the farmhouse through the thick geysir steam.

Very atmospheric scene.

Three geysirs in the area with different names

It was a bit like a lunar landscape with steaming bubbling cauldrons around the area and I found it odd yet attractive in a weird sort of way.

The Blue Lagoon

One of the things we wanted to do when we visited Iceland was to go to the Blue Lagoon.

We arrived just as it opened in the morning and being winter the sun had not yet come up. I believe it was around 10 am at least.

We enjoyed a coffee and snack in the cafe overlooking the lagoon before heading for the changing rooms.

The lagoon was gloriously warm but in order to get into the water you had to leave your wrap and shoes on a hanging clothes stand and walk speedily into the water before you got too cold.

The sun coming up and the steamy geyser in the centre sending up lots of steam.

Around the lagoon edges there were boxes full of salty slop which you could put on your face . It dried white and crisp and then you carefully washed it off trying not to get it in your eyes. It was meant to help your skin look great.z

The steam made the whole place slightly eerie looking. You had to swim splash free as the salty water would make your eyes sting but the salt kept you floating easily if you just wanted to lie back and float.

You had to be careful not to stay in too long as warm salty water is quite dehydrating. When we out out we had plenty of water to drink.

The changing rooms were sleek and clean

Looking out over the lagoon from the cafe where we had lots of water and something to eat.

Outside the Blue Lagoon there were thermal pools and beautiful blue water with salty crystals at the edges.

Thermal pools and volcanic scenery around the Blue Lagoon.

Snow crystals around the thermal pools.

Volcanic rocks surround the Blue Lagoon.