Óþerrishola

Geysir, Haukadalur Valley, South Iceland, Iceland

Location: Geysir, Haukadalur Valley, South Iceland, Iceland
Water type: sulfurous
Temperature: 95 °C
pH: 6.5

Water profile

Thermicity

Sedative

95 °C

LowHigh

Relaxing — deep, immediate muscle release.

Mineralisation

Bio-active

LowHigh

Rich in active gases or metals — a strong mineral character.

Buoyancy

Standard buoyancy

LowHigh

Soft water — natural, classic buoyancy.

SoufreSulfuresSulfates

Óþerrishola — 'Unstirred Hole' — is a geothermal feature in Iceland whose name describes a still, undisturbed pool or hole of geothermal water that does not display the agitation or boiling activity of more energetic hot springs nearby. In a volcanic landscape full of erupting geysers, bubbling mud pots, and steaming vents, a spring notable for its calm and stillness stands out, and this quality of serene geothermal pooling has earned Óþerrishola its quietly distinctive name. The still, warm water of the pool offers a contemplative contrast to Iceland's more dramatic geothermal spectacles.

Insider tip — Óþerrishola is a boiling vent within the Haukadalur geothermal field, part of the same magmatic plumbing system that feeds the famous Geysir and Strokkur geysers. The spring sits on a silica sinter terrace and its water approaches boiling point at surface level due to the high geothermal gradient beneath the valley. The Haukadalur valley has been a site of geothermal interest since the medieval sagas, with written accounts of the hot springs dating to the 13th century. Visits should be confined to the marked boardwalk paths as the silica crust surrounding active vents can be deceptively thin.

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