It is a spring characterized by an intermittent discharge of water ejected turbulently and accompanied by steam. In simple words, it is a hot spring that erupts under pressure.
There are tube-like holes deep in the earth's crust from which the geysers are made. The tube is filled with water. There is magma (molten rock) near the tube that heats the water. As the water begins to boil, some of the water gradually rises. The water turns into steam or gas which jets toward the surface. Its powerful jet of steam ejects the column of water above it. The water comes out of the tube and into the air. This is what we see as the water geyser. The eruption continues till the temperature inside the geyser drops below the boiling stage (100C or 212F). People Call this the sneezing of the earth because of the pressure with which the water comes out.
Depending on the geyser size the eruption time and duration vary. If it is a small geyser the eruption is for only a few minutes, but if it is a large geyser the eruption can be there for few days. The geyser in the United States, Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful, erupts every 50-100 mins. There are very few 100 geysers around the world.
Credits: Harini
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