Concept in Definition ABC

This word comes from the Icelandic word geysir and this in turn comes from the verb gjósa, which literally means to emanate, sprout or arise. A geyser is a type singular thermal spring that periodically expels a column of Water hot and steam that emerges from the interior of the earth and is expelled to the atmosphere.

This phenomenon of nature depends on unique hydrological conditions

The expulsion of jets of hot water and steam from the interior of the earth is a rare phenomenon. In fact, it is estimated that on the entire planet there are about a thousand geysers (approximately half of them are in the National Park of Yellowstone in the state of Wyoming, in the United States).

Its activity is conditioned by the action of minerals in its internal pipes or by the action of seismic movements. The emission of a powerful jet of hot water and steam is produced by the contact between surface water and rocks heated by magma located in the underground areas.

When the water has been heated in a geothermal way it is expelled to the surface by the

force convection. In other words, cold surface water is pressed from inside the earth by the action of hot water found in thermal water reservoirs.

On synthesisLarge hot water tanks continuously feed the geyser evacuation duct until a powerful jet of hot water is expelled.

Curiosities

The Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone expels hot water on a regular basis, specifically between 45 and 120 minutes and the height of the water rises up to 50 meters. According to recent research, tremors occur inside the earth that trigger thermal activity

Most geysers are normally found in volcanic areas and the best known are in Iceland, New Zealand, the United States, Japan and Chile. This phenomenon of nature represents an original attraction for thousands of tourists.

The Strokkur geyser in Iceland has an eruption frequency that ranges between 5 and 10 minutes and its altitude reaches 20 meters.

The Maori people of New Zealand used the hot springs near the geysers to cook the food, because they understood that Mother Nature was the one who had to heat the products of the earth.

The Energy Geothermal in the territories where there are geysers is a natural resource that allows the use of groundwater to obtain hot water in homes (this source of energy is very common in countries such as New Zealand, Japan or Iceland).

Before the jet of hot water and steam comes out, there is a characteristic bubbling noise.

Fotolia photos: Galyna Andrushko / Lane Erickson

Themes in Geyser