Iceland heats its homes and makes much of its electricity from the heat beneath it.
Why Iceland sits on top of so much geothermal heat
Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian plates are pulling apart. Iceland also sits over a mantle plume, a volcanic hotspot beneath the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The whole Reykjanes Peninsula is a UNESCO Global Geopark.
The difference between high-temperature and low-temperature geothermal fields
Iceland's geothermal areas are divided into low-temperature and high-temperature areas. All the high-temperature areas lie inside the volcanic zones. Torfajokull has the largest and most powerful high-temperature area in Iceland. Hot springs and their deposits have special protection under the Nature Conservation Act.
How Iceland turns underground heat into electricity and home heating
Geothermal heat supplies cheap, clean home heating to most Icelanders. Homes without geothermal access use electric heating, which costs considerably more. Hot water from geothermal sources is piped straight into homes, schools and offices.
Parts of Laugavegur in Reykjavik are kept free of snow by geothermal heat under the pavement. In high-temperature areas, boreholes bring up boiling water and steam, and the steam drives the turbines. Hydropower makes most of Iceland's electricity, and geothermal most of the rest.
The Hellisheidi power plant makes electricity for Iceland's national grid and hot water for the capital region. Carbfix, a method that stores carbon dioxide by turning it into rock, was developed at Hellisheidi. Landsvirkjun runs three geothermal stations in the northeast: Krafla, Theistareykir and Bjarnarflag.
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is in a lava field on the Reykjanes Peninsula, close to the Svartsengi power plant.
Where to see geothermal wonders across Iceland's regions
The greenhouses in Hveragerdi use geothermal heat to grow fruit and vegetables all year. At Namaskard, visitors must stay on the designated paths at all times. In geothermal areas such as Reykjadalur, visitors should stay on the path. Krysuvik has a boardwalk through its geothermal area.
Use the Driving Distance Calculator to help plan your trip.
Comparing geothermal and volcanic tours on the Reykjanes Peninsula
You can compare Reykjanes tours to see the current options.
