VOLCANIC
SPRINGS

Gunnuhver, Kísilhóll Group

Gunnuhver is a special geothermal area because a major part of its groundwater comes from the nearby sea, containing lots of salt and also dissolved silica. Continuous hot spring activity has formed huge deposits of silica sinter, today visible as silica hill.

Kísilhóll Gunnuhver Iceland
Kísilhóll, seen from the west

A huge number of fumaroles and mud pots are located at and around Kísilhóll. The following picture conveys a typical impression of a pinhole fumarole on the silica surface.

Fumarole Kísilhóll Gunnuhver Iceland
Fumarole at Kísilhóll

Best known is the vigorously boiling mud crater northeast of Kísilhóll, which came into being in 2007 and adopted the name Gunnuhver. Spanning a diameter of 66 feet (20 m) it is the largest mud pot in Iceland.

Mud Crater Kísilhóll Gunnuhver Iceland
The large mud crater Gunnuhver

At the northern slope of Kísilhóll a pronounced hole attracts attention, probably a bowl of an extinct geyser or mud pot.

Mud Pot Kísilhóll Gunnuhver Iceland
Mud Pot Gun 2

Three examples of fumaroles in the vicinity of Kísilhóll are shown below.

Fumarole Kísilhóll Gunnuhver Iceland
Fumaroles in the vicinity of Kísilhóll

Fumarole Kísilhóll Gunnuhver Iceland
Fumarole Gun 3

Fumarole Kísilhóll Gunnuhver Iceland
Fumarole Gun 4

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