: use of geothermal energy
: hot springs

(the typical Icelandic greenhouse)

Because of the huge availability of natural energy by geothermal warmth, Hveragerði became the so-called “centre of greenhouses”. Its not really surprising that the town is also called the “Blossoming town”, if you see all the greenhouses supplied by geothermal energy. The main emphasis in this greenhouse cultivation lies in the growth of vegetables (like tomatoes and cucumbers, etc.), but to an increasing extent in flowers as well. Few of these greenhouses are open to tourists, too, and the national school for gardening can be found in Hveragerði as well. In the so-called landscape “Garden Eden” the visitor can find greenhouses, flower shops, cafes, souvenir shops, galleries and a “café under palm trees”.
10km north of Hveragerði one can find the power plant of Nesjavellir, where hot steam is used for heating up water. This water is delivered to Reykjavik in an over 50km long pipeline and supplies the whole capital city with warm water. Moreover, the geothermal energy is used for producing electricity, which is used in a large area of southern and south-eastern Iceland.

Next to the town of Hveragerði hot springs can be found, two of them presented in the following:

The Blue Hot Spring is the biggest and also best-known hot spring of the area around Hveragerði. Its name refers to its bluish color, resulting from special minerals existing in this water, which absorb the sunlight’s red wave lengths, reflecting the blue-green color the eye. The temperature of this hot spring varies: it is hottest on the left at approximately 88°C. You can find mud holes at the bottom when it’s dry, and the slope above is characterized by smoking hot pots warmer than 80°C. To the right, the water gets colder, to about 30°C.


The Riverbank Hot Spring’s pyramid-shaped cover reminds one of a powerful fumarole. The steam coming from this hot spring was used for pasteurizing milk and producing cheese, the water for heating, washing and cooking. The water is 22°C to about 71°C hot.

: mailto