GEYSIR

also called Great Geysir, geyser in rnes, southwestern Iceland, near the settlement of Haukadalur. The spouting hot spring gave its name (in use since 1647) to similar phenomena around the world. It spouted boiling water at least as early as the 13th century, but since 1916 it has been relatively inactive, perhaps because of refuse that people have thrown into it. Its circular pool is 60 feet (18 m) in diameter and 4 feet (1.2 m) deep. Although it now spouts much less often than some other geysers in the vicinity, its height occasionally reaches nearly 200 feet (61 m).