Geysir, one of the most famous spouting hot springs of the world, its name the source of the English word “geyser”. It is believed that Geysir started spouting in the 13th century. However, at the beginning of last century it stopped altogether, possibly because it was half choked by visitors throwing rocks and turf into the spring in order to activate it. In 1935 it was re–awakened by lowering the water level and at its best spouted to a height of 60 m. The nearby Strokkur spouts with great frequency and Geysir itself spouts once in a while. The centre Geysistofa houses a multi–media exhibition on the forces of nature in Iceland, a restaurant, facilities for research and education, exhibitions on old farming methods and the history of the Geysir area, and a shop.