GeologicalInterest 4/5
Seltún Geothermal Area
Seltún
Seltún is a high-temperature geothermal field at Krýsuvík on the Reykjanes peninsula, reached on Route 42. A zig-zagging wooden boardwalk leads over steaming vents, bubbling fumaroles, and gurgling clay mud pots, with the ground coloured from earthy browns and reds to vivid sulphur yellows and greens.
Region
Reykjanes Peninsula
Coordinates
63.8952° N, 22.0561° W
Important to know
- High danger
- The ground is thin crust over boiling water and mud, and the fumaroles and pools can scald severely; stepping off the boardwalk has caused serious burns.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair · Partial
- A boardwalk and viewing platforms cover the lower area, but the surface is uneven and some sections have steps or slopes.
- Limited mobility · Partial
- The main loop is a short walk on boardwalks and gravel; upper viewpoints involve steeper paths that can be skipped.
- Sensory · Partial
- Strong sulphur smell, steam, heat, and hissing vents are constant and can be intense for sensitive visitors.
- Cognitive · Partial
- Signed walkways make the route clear, but visitors must understand that leaving the path onto the hot ground is dangerous.
Why it matters
The Krýsuvík system was once explored for geothermal power; a borehole here erupted in 1999, destroying earlier infrastructure and reshaping the field. Seltún now serves as one of Reykjanes's most visited geothermal viewpoints within the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark.