High-temperature areas

High-temperature areas are only found on active volcanic belts or along their periphery. There are approximately 20-30 of these areas in Iceland. The volcanic belts lie in a broad area, stretching from the Southwest corner of Iceland diagonally to the Northeast. Water temperature in high-temp areas is 200°C or more at a depth of 1000 meters. The surface activity is much more diverse than in low-temperature areas. Fumaroles are found along hot springs, mud pots and geysers. Generally, soil is very acidic, making it inhospitable to vegetation. The main high-temp areas in Iceland are on the Reykjanes Peninsula, Krísuvík, Hengill (all in SW-Iceland), Torfajökull and Grímsvötn (S-Iceland), Námaskarð and Krafla (N-Iceland). Water in high-temperature areas heats up when it comes into contact with hot bedrock, which is heated by its proximity to magma. Because of the high-temperature, more minerals and gases are dissolved in the water in high-temperature areas.  Hence, the water is not utilised directly for heating. However, high steam pressure and thermal power are well suited for heating up fresh water as a hot water supply and for generating electricity, which is precisely what occurs at the Nesjavellir power plant.