GeologicalInterest 3/5
Deildartunguhver
Deildartunguhver, in Reykholtsdalur, is the highest-flow hot spring in Europe, discharging about 180 litres of water per second at a temperature of 97°C. The site supports Struthiopteris fallax, the only fern endemic to Iceland, which thrives in the warm, humid microclimate around the spring.
Region
West Iceland
Coordinates
64.6645° N, 21.4123° W
Important to know
- High danger
- Near-boiling 97°C water, steam, wet surfaces, and fragile geothermal ground make barrier compliance essential.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair · Partial
- Wooden walkways and viewing platforms sit close to the free car park on mostly level ground.
- Limited mobility · Partial
- The hot spring is close to parking, but steam, wet surfaces, and platform crowding can limit comfort.
- Sensory · Limited
- Strong steam, sulfur smell, heat, humidity, and boiling-water sound can be intense.
- Cognitive · Partial
- The site is small, but visitors must understand hot-water boundaries and stay on platforms.
Why it matters
The spring's geothermal output is piped as district heating to the towns of Borgarnes (34 km away) and Akranes (64 km away), among the longest hot-water pipelines in Iceland, illustrating the country's widespread reliance on geothermal energy for heating. Its sustained natural flow rate, without any pumping, makes it a reference example of Iceland's high-temperature geothermal resources.