Geothermal Heat

Iceland is a geological "hot spot", causing the huge number of hot springs and spouting geysers around the country. Iceland is packed with warm springs, pools, fumaroles, mud pots, colourful soil and, of course, spouting geysers. The Geysir area in Haukadalur valley is Iceland's most famous geothermal area, with the world famous Geysir and Strokkur springs spouting regularly.

Historically, geothermal power has been limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries. Iceland, which lies on the mid-Atlantic Ridge, was basically formed by the drifting apart of the American and Eurasian tectonic plates and therefore creating the perfect settings for the usability of geothermal heat.

Due to the newness of the land itself (approximately 16-20 million years), the crust of the earth is thin, which accounts for the huge number of hot springs around the country. Iceland is located on what geologists call a “hot spot”, and the geothermal resources are used for heating, and also harnessed to generate electricity.

The word “Geothermal” comes from the Greeks roots geo, meaning earth, and thermos, meaning heat.

Geothermal areas in Iceland

The Geysir area in Haukadalur valley is undoubtedly Iceland's most famous geothermal area. However, many other similar areas can be found across Iceland, e.g. areas in the vicinity of Kverkfjöll mountains, Námafjall mountain, Þeystareykir and Hveragerdi village.

The main characteristics of these geothermally active areas in Iceland are warm springs, pools, hot springs, fumaroles, mud pots, precipitations of calcium, silicates and sulphur, and colourful soil, and - of course - spouting geysers.

Use of geothermal power in Iceland

While Icelanders have long used natural hot water for bathing and washing their clothes, it was only in the 20th century that technology made it possible to provide geothermal heating by drilling down to underground hot-water sources.

Geothermal heating of houses began around 1930, and today all of Reykjavik is heated by the Reykjavík Energy district heating system. Throughout Iceland, about 90% of the population now enjoy geothermal heating (not all parts of the country have utilisable hot water resources). Iceland has several major geothermal power plants which produce the majority of the country's electricity.