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Geyser Facts

Geyser Facts
Geysers are considered a rare phenomenon. They are springs that are ejected violently through the earth with steam. There are only a few places on earth where this is possible, thanks to specific hydrogeological conditions. Geyser sites are generally located near active volcano regions. The geyser is affected by its proximity to magma. A geyser occurs when surface water makes it way to about 6,600 down and reaches hot rocks. The water boils the pressurized water and sends it back up to shoot out of the surface creating a geyser. Geysers can cease to exist due to changes in the area due to earthquakes, hot springs or human activity.
Interesting Geyser Facts:
The temperature of the water in a geyser can reach as high as 572 degrees Fahrenheit.
One of the most famous geysers in the United States is Old Faithful, located in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It reaches about 130 feet when it erupts through the earth and into the air.
Some hot springs, which create geysers are very colorful. They can turn orange, yellow, and even red due to microbes.
Geysers are able to reach heights of 330 feet or higher. They can also only reach a few feet in some cases.
There are roughly 1,000 geysers known to exist worldwide today.
In order for a geyser to be created there are three elements required, including water, extreme heat, and underground natural plumbing which includes cracks or spaces in the ground.
After a geyser erupts the remaining water underground cools down and stops the eruption. This begins the cycle again.
The term geyser is originated from the Great Geyser found in Iceland. The term is derived from 'geysa', an Icelandic verb which means 'to gush'.
Two types of geysers exist. One is a fountain geyser and the other is a cone geyser.
A fountain geyser erupts violently from a pool of water.
A cone geyser is a steady stream of water that erupts from a mound and can last as long as several minutes. Many are only seconds long.
Over time geysers can go dormant or can disappear due to changes in the underground plumbing such as mineral build-up or earthquakes.
People have been known to destroy geysers by throwing trash or objects into them.
Geothermal power plants have also been known to destroy geysers located nearby.
Half of the active geysers known to exist in the world are located in Yellowstone National Park.
The only geyser field in Europe and Asia is located in The Valley of the Geysers, Russia. There are approximately 200 geysers there.
The 3rd largest geyser field in the world is located in the Andes, Chile, with 80 active geysers.
The largest known geyser ever to exist was the Waimangu Geyser which began in 1900 and ended in 1904 when a water table was changed by a landslide.
Iceland has some of the most famous geysers found on earth.
Geyser-type eruptions have been known to happen on moons found within our solar system, including Neptune's moon Triton and Saturn's moon Enceladus.


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