Nature and Travel
| Iceland Monitor
| Fri 2 Jan 2015
| 10.57 GMT
A moment of unexpected beauty
The drillhole erupts at a steady rate and the steam is at a temperature of 200 °C Photo/Hörður Jónasson
A 50-100 metre high stroke of steam recently started spouting from a National Power Company of Iceland drillhole in Þeistareykir, north Iceland. The majestic phenomenon spouts at a constant pressure and the steam's temperature is 200 °C
The company was not expecting the drillhole, which is 400 metres deep, to spout and are planning to cool it down to stop the eruptive activity.
Iceland generates 99% of its energy from renewable hydroelectric and geothermal sources. The National Power Company, Landsvirkjun generates three fourths of this energy from hydroelectric power and geothermal energy.
