Strokkur, Iceland’s most spectacular geyser

The Strokkur geyser in Iceland may very well be one of the nation’s most famous. A popular tourist destination in the country, Strokkur consistently gives spectacular eruptions that occur at almost regular intervals every 5 to 8 minutes. Located within the Haukadalur Valley, the geothermal area that rises near the Hvítá River east of Reykjavik, the site is linked to strong and continuous volcanic activity and is part of the Golden Circle, a famous tourist itinerary of 180 miles. The itinerary also hosts the Great Geysir, now inactive and from which the term "geyser" was born.



Strokkur, born following an earthquake in 1294, became inactive in 1896 due to another seismic shock that blocked the water pipe. It was only in 1963, when the inhabitants of the area decided to clean up the pipeline that the geyser once again began erupting regularly. The thunderous explosion of boiling water that starts at a depth of 23 meters at a temperature of 250°F, can reach 40 meters in height, a jet so powerful and spectacular that it leaves anyone who witnesses the uniqueness of this fantastic phenomenon breathless.



Strokkur, which in Icelandic means "churn", or the wooden container used to make butter, is undoubtedly the most photographed attraction in Iceland. Strokkur is a place where nature manifests all its power, an exciting and always different show that is repeated many times a day and therefore impossible to miss. Access to the geyser is totally free and visitors can get quite close, but there is of course a safe distance to respect.

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