It was a total Geology Day

Absolutely amazing day. Started with getting a VW SUV at Hertz

Then we drove through to a GEOTHERMAL plant. This takes hot water (300 degree C–it is still liquid due to the pressure down there) lets it turn to steam as the pressure is removed. The steam turns theses huge turbines and makes 3000 megawatts of electricity. Then before they pump it back into the earth they run it next to fresh cold water (which they have glaciers of)..and that warm water comes to the city and heats houses and is hot water.

We stuck our head into the room with the turbine. Quiet, clean. The steam that you see in the picture is all the “pollution”. Amazing.

Not surprisingly, just a little way up the hill was the first GEYSIR. That was this one’s name– from this it became a common word. These ponds are actually bubbling at 212 degrees– notice the minimal barriers.

Then to these waterfalls.

They were going to dam them for power and this woman said “I will throw myself over the falls if you do that”. And so they didn’t.

Then on to the Continental Rift. We are walking between two tectonic plates that are drifting apart 0.33 inches a year. The middle part sinks, the walls used to meet. Amazing to me.