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Geothermal fields
Described geothermal fields
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What is included in this category?
This category includes the most impressive geothermal fields in the world.
What are geothermal fields?
There are many locations on Earth where the heated rocks – magma – are closer to the surface of the ground. Most of such locations are along the borders of tectonic plates and in so-called hotspots. The surface water there seeps through the ground, reaches heated rocks, gets overheated and rises back, upwards, on its path dissolving diverse substances and creating various interesting natural phenomena.
Locations with such thermal water and gases are geothermal fields.
Unusual effects and phenomena of geothermal fields
A lot of diverse factors make geothermal fields unusual:
- Heat. In geothermal fields, the water is warmer as usual, and frequently – a lot warmer! There are hot springs, lakes, rivers, waterfalls! Groundwater heats the ground – you can build a tent there and… after some hours the tent will be like a sauna! A frequent sign of a geothermal field is steam plumes that rise from the ground.
Colors of salt springs in Dallol, Ethiopia / Jean Michel Mestdagh, Flickr / CC BY 2.0 - Colors. Overheated water dissolves diverse minerals and in the heated water thrive diverse algae and other microorganisms. As a result, on the ground surface, we see bright, unusual colors: geothermal fields are colored bright yellow (sulfur), white (lime, silica), diverse hues of orange and brown as well as green (iron), but there are other bright colors as well. Colors in geothermal fields frequently are unusually clear and bright. Very beautiful are the colors under the water level – geothermal springs might be unusually lucid.
- Noise. Sometimes it is quite noisy in geothermal fields, especially loud can be fumaroles. For example, Roaring Mountain in Yellowstone National Park could be heard miles away in the early 20th century.
Mammoth Hot Springs, United States / Jim Trodel, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 - Unusual landforms and geological phenomena. Only in geothermal fields can be found geysers, mudpots (acidic hot springs), travertine terraces and other unusual formations.
- Rare minerals – in unusual conditions form unusual minerals. Thus, for example, the only place in the world, where rheniite – one of two rhenium-containing minerals – is found, is a geothermal field at Kudriavy Volcano, Iturup, Kuril Islands.
- Rare species of organisms – the permanent heat helps to maintain species that otherwise would not survive. Thus, for example, a snail Physella wrighti lives only in Liard Hot Springs in northern British Columbia, Canada. In the thermal springs of Cuatro Ciénegas Valley, Mexico, live more than 70 species that are met only there.
Top 25 locations with the most impressive geothermal fields
Africa
Dallol hot springs and geysers
Ethiopia
One of the most unusual places on Earth is Dallol Volcano. It is dubbed to be the most colorful place on Earth and the hottest place in the world. This is the only volcano in the world below sea level and without water over it. This place has got the only geysers of salt and acid in the world – and lots of them!
Asia
Valley of Geysers
Russia
One of the largest and most unusual geyser fields in the world, the only large geyser field in Asia. Consists of more than 200 geysers, most erupting at various angles. Massive mudflow covered approximately two-thirds of geysers but the valley still is a very interesting natural monument. Geyser Velikan is up to 40 m tall.
Peting Chuja and Naisum Chuja
Tibet
Some of the most mysterious and less known geyser fields in the world, located in hard to access valley of La Chu (Laha) River, distance between them – some 30 km. It is considered that there are some 14 active geysers. Naisum Chuja at the end of the 19th century had two geysers spouting up to 18 m high. During the harsh Tibetan winter the water freezes, forming weird ice towers.
Dagejia Geysers
Tibet
Possibly one of the largest geyser fields in the world reported having some 100 geysers. Dagejia Geyser spouts up to 20 m high and is the largest geyser in Tibet.
Australia and Oceania
Wai-O-Tapu
New Zealand
One of the most beautiful geothermal areas worldwide. Besides Lady Knox geyser, mud pools, numerous hot springs, and sinter terraces it contains a highly unusual hot spring – Champagne Pool, constantly filled with carbon dioxide bubbles. Along the rim of this spring are deposited bright orange arsenic and antimony salts.
Orakei Korako
New Zealand
A geothermal area with unique, colorful sinter terraces and geysers. The largest geyser field in New Zealand with some 35 active geysers. The lower terrace – Emerald Terrace – is the largest sinter terrace in New Zealand. Part of it is flooded by a hydropower station, submerging some 200 hot springs and 70 geysers.
Whakarewarewa geothermal area
New Zealand
Geothermal area in Rotorua city with unique cultural properties. The facilities offered by geothermal fields have been used by Maori since at least 1350 AD – they developed bathtubs, made food here. The area contains seven active geysers including the up to 30 m high Pohutu Geyser.
Waimangu geothermal area
New Zealand
Geothermal area, created by Mount Tarawera eruption in 1886. The area contains many interesting features. Frying Pan Lake is the largest hot spring in the world – the area of this hot lake is 3.8 ha. Warbrick Terraces and Marble Terraces are sinter terraces in the process of formation. Inferno Crater is the largest geyser-like lake – a light blue steaming lake with a fluctuating water level.
Europe
Haukadalur geothermal area
Iceland
One of the most famous geothermal fields. Two spectacular geysers – Geysir and Strokkur – are located close together. Geysir has given the name to the geological phenomenon of geysers. Geysir has been up to 100 m high in the past. Strokkur is very intense, erupting 25 – 35 m high every 4 – 8 minutes. In the area are some more geysers and hot springs.
Hveravellir Geothermal Field
Iceland
Beautiful geothermal field and popular tourist destination. Area contains several notable hot springs and geysers, such as Gjósandi, Bræðrahver, Grænihver, Rauðihver, Öskurhóll, Fagrihver and others. Here are at least six geysers.
Stórihver Geothermal Area
Iceland
Impressive geothermal area in the picturesque mountains north of Mýrdalsjökull glacier. The large, blue pool of Stórihver is some 15 m wide. Several boiling springs. It is possible that some springs could be geysers.
North America
Norris Geyser Basin
United States
Very interesting and rich geyser field at the site where two fault lines intersect. Here the geysers contain highly acidic water, which is rare in the world. Here is located the tallest active geyser in the world – Steamboat Geyser. It erupts rarely, but then – up to 116 m high. Amazing is the beautiful Echinus Geyser – the largest acid geyser in the world with interesting formations around it.
Midway Geyser Basin
United States
This geothermal area contains such interesting features as Excelsior Geyser – a large pool that a century ago exploded up to 91 m high. Here is also the amazing, colourful Grand Prismatic Spring.
Upper Geyser Basin
United States
One of the largest geyser fields in the world with almost 300 geysers. Here are located some of the iconic geysers in the world – Old Faithful Geyser (32 – 55 m high), Beehive Geyser (45 – 60 m high). Giantess Geyser erupts several times in year up to 60 m high, eruption lasts for 1 – 43 hours.
Lower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone
United States
The second richest geyser area in Yellowstone. Here are such geysers as Great Fountain (up to 67 m tall), Clepsydra, White Dome (geyser with high cone, erupting up to 9.1 m), Fountain.
West Thumb Geyser Basin
United States
This geothermal field contains Fishing Cone – a geyser cone in lake water. One of the amazing geysers here is Overhanging Geyser – located on an overhanging cliff above Yellowstone Lake. It is amazing to imagine how the hot water is accessing this geyser. The geyser field includes also geothermal features under the lake level.
Valley of Desolation
Dominica
A spectacular geothermal area with steam vents, fumaroles, hot springs and boiling mud pots.
Cuatro Ciénegas Valley (Cuatro Ciénegas Valley)
Mexico
An unusual part of Chihuahua desert with thousands of geothermal spring pools. Extremely high biodiversity including more than 70 endemic species not found outside this valley. Most unique are stromatolites in spring lakes, endemic plants in gypsum dunes, fishes in lakes.
Ixtlán de los Hervores geothermal field
Mexico
In this geothermal field earlier used to be up to 14 geysers (it is possible that few still exist near Salitre village). Now there are several artificial geysers. The tallest of these artificial geysers – Ixtlan Geyser – reaches a height up to 30 m.
Shoshone Geyser Basin
United States
Pristine geyser field with very well preserved, beautiful sinter formations. Contains 110 thermal features, including Union Geyser, Minute Man Geyser (up to 12 m).
Heart Lake Geyser Basin
United States
Comparatively little visited area, contains such geysers as Rustic (up to 14 m), Spike, Deluge Geysers.
Gibbon Geyser Basin
United States
This thermal field contains many very interesting geothermal features and unusual geysers. Contains Monument Basin – a weird valley with silent geyser cones of diverse forms.
South America
El Tatio
Chile
A large geyser field with at least 85 active geysers erupting up to 6 m high. The field is especially impressive in the early morning. At least 100 geysers and 30 perpetual spouters have been active here in historical times.
Sol de Mañana
Bolivia
This visually impressive field of sulfur springs contains pools with boiling mud. Some abandoned boreholes emit pressurized steam up to 50 m high.
Puente Bello geysers
Peru
Group of perpetual spouters and geysers in magnificent location where the river is crossed by a large natural bridge with road over it. One geyser reaches up to 25 m high.