Gunnuhver

Gunnuhver, located 67 km from Reykjavik, near Reykjanes lighthouse, is Iceland’s biggest mud-pool. The boiling spring which literally translates to ‘Gunn’s hot spring’, is about 20 metres in diameter and unlike other geothermal pools around the country, as the water in the mud-pool consists entirely of seawater. 

Gunnuhver, located 67 km from Reykjavik, near Reykjanes lighthouse, is Iceland’s biggest mud-pool. The boiling spring which literally translates to ‘Gunn’s hot spring’, is about 20 metres in diameter and unlike other geothermal pools around the country, as the water in the mud-pool consists entirely of seawater.

The vibrant blue and orange colours which reflect in the mud-pool, boiling at 300° C, are essentially the rich minerals within. A local 400-year-old folklore talks about the ghost of a witch Gudrun ‘Gunna’ whose revenge tormented people in the Reykjanes region and was subsequently trapped by a priest after she was tricked into going into the spring, where she was eternally trapped. The spring is said to be named after her. Situated near the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark, the region lies close to craters, geothermal pools, lava fields, unique black sand beaches, the Bridge between Continents, Blue Lagoon, museums, geothermal power plants, lighthouses, and cliffs, which are home to innumerable birds. Visitors are advised to be careful and stick to the designated path. There are two ramps in the area, one at the Gunnuhver group, very near Gunnuhver and the other on a silica hill, Kísilhól. In 2006 

 

Gunnuhver was closed as a portion of the platform caved in and the mud-pool became extremely active. The entire experience at Gunnuhver is amazing and surreal, with the sight of violently boiling mud-pool, thick cloudy vapours, sound of powerful bubbling and boiling, smell of mixed gases and hydrogen sulphide, steam etc.

LOCATION

 

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