Deildartunguhver

Deildartunguhver in West Iceland is Europe's most powerful hot spring, producing a remarkable 180 litres of near-boiling water per second at 100°C. The spring feeds the Krauma geothermal baths next door and provides hot water to the towns of Borgarnes and Akranes via one of the world's longest hot water pipelines. The steaming landscape is otherworldly and mesmerising.

Story

Deildartunguhver is Europe's highest-flow hot spring — producing 180 litres of 97°C water per second from the earth. The spring is located in Borgarfjörður in West Iceland and has been used as a district heating source for over a century; today, hot water is piped 74 kilometres to Akranes and 64 kilometres to Borgarnes — one of the world's longest hot water pipelines. The spring itself is dramatic: enormous volumes of near-boiling water burst from the ground in constant clouds of steam. Covered viewing platforms allow close inspection. The adjacent Krauma spa uses the same water, cooled to bathing temperature. Deildartunguhver is a stop on virtually every West Iceland driving route.

Did You Know?

• Iceland generates about 25% of its electricity from geothermal energy
• Geothermal water heats about 90% of all buildings in Iceland
• Iceland has over 600 hot springs and 200+ volcanically heated areas
• The word "geyser" comes from the Icelandic word "geysa" meaning to gush

Location