Gerlach, Nevada’s Fly Geyser: A One-Of-A-Kind Geothermal Wonder
The Fly Geyser, also known as the Fly Ranch Geyser, is a small geothermal geyser located on private land in Washoe County, Nevada, about 20 miles (32 km) north of Gerlach. It is actually man-made. In June 2016, the nonprofit Burning Man Project purchased the 3,800-acre (1,500 ha) Flies Farm, including the geyser, for $6.5 million. The Burning Man project began allowing limited public access to the area in May 2018. The geyser contains thermophilic algae, which thrive in hot and humid environments, producing many shades of green and red, color the stone.
The geyser contains thermophilic algae, which thrive in hot, humid environments, producing a variety of green and red hues that color the rock.
The first geyser at this site was formed in 1916.
The heat source of the Fly Geyser field is thought to be a very deep hot rock pool where rifting and tectonic faults often occur. The first geyser at this site was formed in 1916 when a well was drilled for irrigation water. When geothermal water close to the boiling point was found, the well was abandoned and a 10–12 foot (3.0–3.7 m) long calcium carbonate cone was formed.
In 1964, a geothermal energy company drilled a second well near the site of the first. The water is not hot enough for energy purposes. According to reports, they put the cap on the well, but the sealing failed. The flow from the second well releases enough pressure to drain the original geyser. Water-soluble minerals, including calcium carbonate and silica, accumulate around the new geyser, creating limestone cones and pools.
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