Fly Geyser, otherwise known as Fly Ranch Geyser is a small geothermal geyser located in Washoe County, Nevada. This oddly shaped geyser is actually man-made due to drilling errors.
There are two geysers in this Fly Ranch area. The first geysers were formed in 1916 when a well was drilled for irrigation water. When geothermal water near boiling point was discovered, unfortunately drilling activities were abandoned and calcium carbonate as high as 3.0-3.7 meters was formed.
Fly Ranch Geyser was formed due to errors in drilling.
In 1964, a geothermal energy company drilled a second well near the site of the first well. Unfortunately the water is not hot enough for energy purposes. The well was then closed, but failed to seal the jet of water, calcium carbonate and silica. The second geyser that looks like a strange mound is known as the Fly Geyser. This geyser is covered with thermophilic algae that thrives in a hot and humid environment, resulting in a variety of greens and reds.
The geysers can be seen by traveling on State Route 34 from the town of Gerlach. In 2018, Fly Geyser opened to the public for the first time and became one of the popular destinations for nature lovers.
