Gunnuhver – The Angry Ghost of Reykjanes

Story & Folklore

Gunnuhver is one of the most famous haunted places in Iceland. The geothermal area on the Reykjanes Peninsula is named after a ghost called Gunna — a woman who died after a bitter dispute with her landlord centuries ago. According to Icelandic folklore, Gunna's spirit began haunting the Reykjanes peninsula after her death, terrorizing locals and refusing to rest. The priest Eiríkur of Vogsósar eventually trapped her spirit in the boiling geothermal springs through a series of rituals and exorcisms. The springs were named Gunnuhver — Gunna's pool — in her memory. Today Gunnuhver is known for its massive mud pools, steaming vents and sulfur-scented air. The unearthly atmosphere that surrounds the area feels almost supernatural — the ground trembles beneath your feet, clouds of white steam obscure visibility, and the sounds of the boiling earth echo like something alive beneath the surface. Visitors to Gunnuhver often report a strange feeling of unease, as if something is watching from within the steam. Whether that is Gunna's spirit still restless beneath the surface, or simply the volcanic power of Iceland at work, is a matter of belief.