Geysir (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈgeɪsɪr] ), sometimes known as The Great Geysir, is a geyser in south-western Iceland, that geological studies suggest started forming about 1150 CE. The English word geyser (a periodically spouting hot spring) derives from Geysir. The name Geysir itself is derived from the Icelandic verb geysa ("to go quickly forward"). Geysir lies in the Haukadalur valley on the slopes of Laugarfjall lava dome, which is also the home to Strokkur geyser about 50 metres (160 ft) to the south. The Strokkur geyser may be confused with it, and the geothermal field it is in is known usually as either, Geysir or Haukadalur.
Eruptions at Geysir can typically hurl boiling water up to 60 m (200 ft) in the air. However, eruptions are nowadays infrequent, and have in the past stopped altogether for many years at a time.
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