Seltun Geothermal Area

Seltun Geothermal Area

Seltun Geothermal Area. The volatile geothermal field Austurengjar, about 2km south of Kleifarvatn, is often called Krýsuvík after the nearby abandoned farm. Even by Icelandic standards, this area is prone to geological tantrums. The temperature below the surface is 200°C and the water is boiling as it emerges from the ground. A borehole was sunk here to provide energy for Hafnarfjörður during the 1990s, but it exploded without warning in 1999 and the project was abandoned.At Seltún, boardwalks meander round a cluster of hot springs. The mud pots and steaming sulfuric solfataras (volcanic vents) shimmer with rainbow colours from the minerals in the earth.Nearby is the lake Grænavatn, an old explosion crater filled with interesting teal water – caused by a combination of minerals and warmth-loving algae.Read more lonelyplanet.com