Geothermal Place Names in Iceland

There are many place names in Iceland that are directly linked to the presence of geothermal activity, often named by the early Settlers as they explored the country. In this way, we see the geothermal landscapes of the country affecting cultural and linguistic landscapes as well. Common indicators include reykja, hver, laug, and geysir.

Reykja and reykr are both related to smoke in Old Norse-Icelandic. The early settlers saw ‘smoke’ – more accurately, steam – rising from the ground in many places and often named these areas after this geothermal feature. Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital, is perhaps the most famous example of this. Translated into English, the word means smoky (or steamy) bay. Other examples include Reykjahlíð, Reykjadalur, Reykjanes, and Reykholt.

Hver comes from the Old Norse-Icelandic word hverr, meaning hot spring. One of the most famous place names linked with this word is Hveradalir, an area within Kerlingarfjöll in the Highlands. Hveradalir translates to Hot Spring Valley, and it is well-known for hot springs, steam vents, and a colorful geothermal landscape. There is another area called Hveradalir that is just down the road from us at the exhibition. This is a smaller area where you can walk along raised trails through a geothermal area amidst steam, bubbling mud pits, and geothermal waters. Other examples include Hveragerði and Hverahlíð.

Laug means hot spring in Old Norse/Icelandic, and in place names it is also sometimes linked with the Old Norse/Icelandic word lauga, meaning to bathe or wash. In Reykjavík, two famous place names linked with both meanings are Laugardalur and Laugavegur. Laugardalur translates to Hot Spring Valley, which was an area with hot springs where people used to do their laundry in the past. Laugavegur translates to Hot Spring Route (or Hot Spring Road or Way). This was the route that people would take to get to the hot springs in Laugardalur. Today, laug is also used to refer to the numerous heated swimming pools around the country, made possible by geothermal resources. Other examples of place names include Landmannalaugar, Snorralaug, Hrunalaug, and Laugarvatn.

Geysir most likely comes from the Old Norse/Icelandic verb gjósa, meaning to gush or burst out. It has also been linked with the verb geysa, meaning to send out with violence, or to rush furiously. Geysir means geyser, and the English word geysir actually comes from this Icelandic word! In Iceland, Geysir most frequently refers to the famous Stóri-Geysir, one of the most popular stops on the Golden Circle. It is no longer very active, but a smaller geyser next to it, Strokkur, erupts every 5-6 minutes.

Geothermal areas and resources have played an important part in Icelandic history and culture. From place names and mentions in the Icelandic sagas, to energy production and swimming pool culture today, Iceland’s geothermal landscape continues to influence daily life on the island.