The usually quiet Gunnuhver mud spring is suddenly alive with activity. PIC Kris Williams
R eally like to know how amazingly wonderful Iceland is? How about if you knew that steps away from the Blue lagoon and Keflavik International airport there is a poltergeist bubbling over with rage.
Sounds ridiculous but could very well be true.
We´re talking about a small area in Reykjanes peninsula dotted with hot springs and mud springs commonly called Gunnuhver. The area has long been attracting visitors curious to witness the forces underneath this land of ours without spending too much time. Gunnuhver is fabulously located for this as its only half an hour away from the international airport. The spring could even be visited during a short layover.
While scientists will tell you the area is just a part of the otherwise geologically active Reykjanes peninsula, the Gunnuhver, literally the spring of Gunna, has usually not been much more than a cozy little attraction where one can oohhh and aahhh over small dirty bubbles for a few minutes. But due to the otherwise barren surroundings the sight is remarkable.
But now suddenly activity in Gunnuhver has doubled and even tripled. The lovely little champagne bubbles have been replaced by pretty impressive hardcore boiling throwing unknown quantities of mud and water over much larger area than before. Even taking down a special ramp for visitors.
The lovely little champagne bubbles have been replaced by pretty impressive hardcore boiling
Again, scientists will ruin everything, shrug, and tell you this is nothing special. Pressure from below around these parts tend to flow around so to speak, gaining and losing strength, and that should not be any surprise. Reykjanes peninsula is nothing but the Mid-Atlantic ridge itself which is constantly in motion.
However, there could well be a very different reason Gunnuhver is blowing its top these days. You see, the spring is the resting place of a very malicious spirit. A poltergeist.
Turns out, over 400 years ago a innovative young local priest tricked the ghost of a woman named Gunna to this very place where it fell into the hot spring supposedly for good. Gunna the ghost had at that time been wrecking havoc for a long time and even considered responsible for deaths around here.
Since there is no record of Gunnuhver having been this active for decades and how little scientists actually know about forces of nature it cannot be ruled out that Gunna has returned. At least she could be trying to escape this particular hell at this moment in time. Bubbling with rage so to speak. Be prepared!
