Capital Region · Iceland
Gunnuhver
Gunnuhver is Iceland's largest geothermal mud pool — a vast, violently bubbling cauldron of grey boiling mud and screaming steam vents on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
About Gunnuhver
Gunnuhver is Iceland's largest geothermal mud pool — a vast, violently bubbling cauldron of grey boiling mud and screaming steam vents on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
History & Background
Gunnuhver is named after the ghost of Guðrún — a woman who lived nearby in the 17th century and was said to have become a poltergeist after her death. Her spirit reportedly caused chaos in the area until a local priest lured her into the boiling spring. The geothermal area sits directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and is one of the most powerful surface expressions of the tectonic activity below. During the recent volcanic unrest on Reykjanes (2021–present), the geothermal activity at Gunnuhver has intensified significantly.
Key Facts
- ✔Iceland's largest geothermal mud pool
- ✔Named after the ghost of a 17th-century woman
- ✔Sits directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
- ✔One of the most powerful geothermal surface features in Iceland
- ✔Activity has intensified during the Reykjanes volcanic unrest since 2021
