Geysers and hot springs

Deildartunguhver is named after Deildartunga – a nearby farm that has been mentioned already in the Icelandic medieval sources. This was valuable agricultural land long before the use of geothermal energy started. The fate of the legendary Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241) is linked to this site as well.

Deildartunguhver is located in the Reykholt geothermal area. This area of thermal water includes one more unique landmark: the nearby Árhver geysers in the middle of a river.

Springs emanate at the foot of Hverahóll hill and have at least nine vents. The temperature of the water at the surface here is 95 – 97 °C. A little deeper it is above the boiling point.

Some of the spring vents behave as water spouters and even geysers. The most active ones can erupt up to 3 m high. In 1810 the geysers were taller – up to 4 m – as described by Scottish geologist Sir George S. Mackenzie.

Deildartunguhver almost continuously is shrouded in dense steam. Thus it is hard to find a moment to take a clear picture of the springs.

District heating system

In the 1970ies, during the oil crisis, a dire need for cheaper energy arose. As a result, a very ambitious project was realized around 1979: there was built a district heating system between Deildartunguhver and the coastal towns – Borgarnes and Akranes. The pipe to Akranes is 64 km long. Water at the end of this pipe still is very hot: 78 – 80 °C.

Later there were found other sources of geothermal energy nearer to the towns – but too late, the system was built and functional.

Thus, the visitors of the site can see how twisted can be the compromise between nature conservation and development. Deildartunguhver is a protected monument of nature. But, as the water appears above the ground and flows for some meters, nature conservation ends: water reaches a system of concrete gutters and disappears in pipes.

The only endemic plant in Iceland

These few meters of “freedom” though are very important. Around the hot springs grows a unique plant, which is found only here: the fern Struthiopteris fallax. In 2019 this small plant (2-5 cm long leaves) was confirmed to be a separate species. This is the only unique species of plants in Iceland.

One more important find is thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) – the only find of this plant in Iceland.

References

1. Dirk Niemann, Deildartunga / Reykholt, Volcanic Springs. Accessed on June 2, 2019.
2. Sonia Molino, Jose M. Gabriel y Galán, Pawel Wasowicz, Pablo de la Fuente, Emily B. Sessa, The Struthiopteris spicant (Blechnaceae, Polypodiopsida) complex in Western Europe, with proposals for taxonomic and nomenclatural changes, Plant Systematics and Evolution (2019) 305:255–268. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-019-1565-0. Accessed on June 3, 2019.

Deildartunguhver is included in the following article:

Hot springs in the river

Vellir is located in Reykholt geothermal area which includes also the spectacular Deildartunga geysers and hot springs nearby.

The thermal springs have formed in a place where a tectonic fault crosses the Reykjadalsá River. Here are some 6 – 8 thermal springs on sand flats and sometimes can be felt also some hot jets rising from the bottom of the river. The name of the river means “river of the misty valley” – and near the hot springs there indeed rise fumes from Reykjadalsá.

Vellir or Árhver (“hot spring of the river”) has formed a cone of cemented clay and gravel which rises almost 2 m above the stream. On this cone are located several vents but one is more active, with constantly boiling water.

The diameter of the spring basin is approximately 1 m. The temperature of the water is around 100 °C, the output of the spring – 10 – 15 liters per second.

Vellir geyser

Nowadays Vellir erupts only if soapy water is added to the spring. Then it erupts up to 2 meters high.

Earlier this was a well-known geyser. It erupted up to 1.5 m high in the late 19th century. After an earthquake in 1896, the height of Vellir increased to a maximum height of 11 m. Two years later though everything was as before and the geyser had its previous power.

In later decades Vellir geyser gradually calmed down and now is dormant.

References

1. Dirk Niemann, Deildartunga / Reykholt, Volcanic Springs. Accessed on May 28, 2019.
2. Professor, Dr. phil. Th. Thoroddsen, Geografiske og geologiske Undersøgelser ved den sydlige Del af Faxaflöi paa Island, Geografisk Tidsskrift, Bind 17 (1903 – 1904). Accessed on May 28, 2019.

Vellir (Árhver) is included in the following article:

Hveravellir geothermal field

There are two Hveravellir geothermal fields in Iceland. The one near Husavik nowadays is somewhat less famous – it has been turned into an energy production facility and much of its former charm has been lost.

Earlier this area was called also Reykir or Storureykir. This was a well know geothermal field, first described already in 1699 – it was on an important road.

The geothermal field is some 1600 by 300 m large and has six larger hot springs – one of them is a geyser and two more – former geysers. In this area are also numerous smaller hot springs.

Initially here developed some farms. In the late 19th century locals tried to grow potatoes – and succeeded. Later local farms started to use hot water for heating houses, then gradually started the development of greenhouses. Now in the geothermal field stand numerous greenhouses, emitting the light throughout the year and producing tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, flowers… Locals even built a swimming pool.

In 1970 it was decided to supply the energy of this geothermal field to the nearby city of Husavik, the production of hot water was further increased in 1974. The next extension came in the late 1990ies and as a result, Husavik gets cheap energy. Meanwhile, the hot springs and most of the geysers have been covered with concrete in order to take the energy with possibly low loss. Hveravellir geothermal field has lost most of its former charm.

Ystihver

Ystihver – “northernmost hot spring” is an impressive fountain-type geyser. It has formed a massive sinter cone with a basin that has a diameter of 10 m. This basin is 8 m deep and full of hot, nearly boiling water in a deep blue color.

In the 18th – 19th centuries, Ystihver erupted rarely and these eruptions were not too impressive. Then in 1904 it was decided to decrease the water level – in the sinter cone were carved channels and the level in the bowl was decreased by 25 cm.

This did wonders – geyser started to erupt every few minutes up to 12 m high and later – up to 25 m high! Eruptions lasted around 30 – 60 seconds.

In 1970 there was made a borehole nearby and as a result, there are no major eruptions anymore. Now Ystihver has minor eruptions up to 3 m high and smaller splashes every few minutes which are caused by bubbles. With the help of soap though can be “organized” more impressive eruptions reaching up to 10 m high.

Before the drilling, Ystihver produced some 17- 19 l/s but now – some 13 l/s.

Ystihver still is a beautiful natural landmark and the northernmost geyser in Iceland and the whole world.

This video shows an impressive eruption of this geyser.

Other geysers and hot springs

Five other large hot springs are:

• Strokkur – (the churn) is just a few meters from Ystihver. This is a hot spring with some 2 by 3 meters large sinter cone, unfortunately, covered with a concrete cistern.Strútshver – (65.8850 N 17.3155 W) “conical hot spring” is a former hot spring which was located in the Helga river. It had two openings. The larger – northern one is covered with concrete now.
• Syðstihver – (65.8832 N 17.3099 W) “southern hot spring” was a smaller geyser which erupted up to 9 m high and had two openings. This was an interesting sight – the eruptions were from both openings, sometimes – simultaneous. Its output was around 11 l/s, but after the drilling – just 2 – 2.5 l/s. It ceased to erupt after an earthquake in 1872. This geyser also has been covered with concrete.
• Þvottahver – (65.8927 N 17.3127 W) “laundry hot spring” is an intermittent hot spring to the north, at Helga river. This is a circular pool with a temperature of 95 °C and an output of 2 – 3 l/s. In earlier times the farms nearby used it for the laundry and also for district heating. This natural landmark exists up to now.
• Uxahver – (65.8855 N 17.3102 W) “hot spring of ox” – was the most impressive geyser in the group in the 19th century. It had a 2.5 by 3.5 m large sinter cone and it erupted up to 9 m high around 1870. These eruptions came together with a rumbling sound – like a bellow of an ox. In 1872 there was a powerful earthquake that destroyed many houses in this area. For some years the geyser was calm. Around 1900 it started to erupt again – some 2 m high. In 1970 it was covered with a concrete cistern in order to take away the hot water for greenhouses and is not visible or accessible. It is possible that one day if the concrete would be removed, Uxahver would start erupting again.

References

1. Dirk Niemann, Hveravellir / Húsavík, Volcanic Springs. Accessed on May 9, 2019. (Great website!)
2. Ludvik S. Georgsson, Kristjan Saemundsson, Hreinn Hjartarson, Exploration and Development of the Hveravellir Geothermal Field, N-Iceland, Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2005, Antalya, Turkey, 24-29 April 2005. Accessed on May 9, 2019.

Hveravellir (Husavik) geothermal field is included in the following article: