{{Short description|Small geothermal geyser in Nevada, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox hot spring | name = Fly Geyser | photo = Fly_geyser.jpg | photo_width = 325px | photo_caption = | name_origin = Named after Fly Ranch | location = Fly Ranch, Washoe County, Nevada | lat_d = | long_d = | coords = {{coord|40|51|34|N|119|19|55|W|region:US-NV|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = | elevation = {{convert|4014|ft}} | hot_spring_type = Cone-type geyser | height = {{convert|5|ft}} and growing | duration = Constant | frequency = Constant | discharge = | temperature = {{convert|93.0|C|F}} | depth = | map =Nevada#USA | map_caption = | map_width = 200 }}
'''Fly Geyser''', also known as '''Fly Ranch Geyser''', is a small geothermal geyser located on private land in Washoe County, Nevada, about {{convert|20|mi}} north of Gerlach. Fly Geyser is located near the edge of Fly Reservoir in the Hualapai Geothermal Flats and is approximately {{convert|5|ft}} high by {{convert|12|ft}} wide, counting the mound on which it sits.
In June 2016, the non-profit Burning Man Project purchased the {{convert|3800|acre}} Fly Ranch, including the geyser, for $6.5 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://flyranch.burningman.org|title=Fly Ranch - Burning Man Project|publisher=burningman.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://journal.burningman.org/2016/06/news/official-announcements/we-bought-fly-ranch/|title=We Bought Fly Ranch|work=Burning Man Journal|access-date=2017-11-08|language=en-US}}</ref> The Burning Man Project began offering limited public access to the property in May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bmflyrnch.wpengine.com/|title=Fly Ranch - Burning Man Project|website=Fly Ranch - Burning Man Project|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-08}}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> The geyser contains thermophilic bacteria and archaea,<ref>https://landartgenerator.org/lagi2020/FlyRanch-Microbial-Biogeochemistry.pdf, p. 17 and p. 20–23</ref> which flourish in moist, hot environments, resulting in multiple hues of green and red, coloring the rocks.
==Location== Fly Geyser is located on the Fly Ranch in Hualapai Flat, about {{convert|0.3|mi|km}} from State Route 34<ref name="cmdrmark">{{cite web |title=Fly Geyser |publisher=CmdrMark.com |url=http://www.cmdrmark.com/20034.html |access-date=2010-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827172730/http://www.cmdrmark.com/20034.html |archive-date=2017-08-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and about {{convert|25|mi|km}} north of Gerlach, Nevada. It is west of Black Rock Desert.
==Origin== The source of the Fly Geyser field's heat is attributed to a very deep pool of hot rock where tectonic rifting and faulting are common.
The first geyser at the site was formed in 1916 when a well was drilled seeking irrigation water. When geothermal water at close to boiling point was found, the well was abandoned, and a {{convert|10|-|12|ft|adj=mid}} calcium carbonate cone formed.<ref name=atlas>[https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fly-ranch-geyser Fly Gerser]</ref>
In 1964, a geothermal energy company drilled a second well near the site of the first well.<ref name=atlas/> The water was not hot enough for energy purposes. They reportedly capped the well, but the seal failed. The discharge from the second well released sufficient pressure that the original geyser dried up.<ref name=atlas/><ref name="Moreno2008">{{cite book|author=Richard Moreno|title=Nevada Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DcRC49IOMpwC&pg=PT104|access-date=15 July 2013|date=4 November 2008|publisher=Globe Pequot Press|isbn=978-0-7627-4682-8|pages=104–}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Dissolved minerals in the water, including calcium carbonate and silica, accumulated around the new geyser, creating the cones and travertine pools.<ref name="Moreno2008" />
The geyser has multiple conic openings sitting on a mound: the cones are about {{convert|6|ft}}, and the entire mound is {{convert|25|to|30|ft}} tall.
thumb|The Fly Geyser is the result of man-made drilling in 1916,<ref name=CmdrMark>{{cite web |date=2003-08-23 |title=Fly Geyser |url=http://www.cmdrmark.com/20034.html |work=Travels in the American Southwest |publisher=CmdrMark.com |access-date=2014-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827172730/http://www.cmdrmark.com/20034.html |archive-date=2017-08-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref> when water well drilling accidentally penetrated a geothermal source.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Leininger |first=Merrie |title=Playa playground - indulge your primitive side at Northern Nevada's Black Rock Desert |journal=Nevada Magazine |url=http://nevadamagazine.com/index.php/issues/read/playa_playground/?phpMyAdmin=86b235aaf4d1ce3f031e538955f87be5 |access-date=2008-10-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714170022/http://nevadamagazine.com/index.php/issues/read/playa_playground/?phpMyAdmin=86b235aaf4d1ce3f031e538955f87be5 |archive-date=2011-07-14 }}</ref> 2009 photo.
==Characteristics== The temperature of the water exiting the geyser can exceed {{convert|200|F|C}},<ref name=kunr/> which is typical for geysers at high elevation.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rinehart|first=John S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-4PcBQAAQBAJ|title=Geysers and Geothermal Energy|date=2012-12-06|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4612-6084-4|language=en}}</ref>
Carolina Muñoz Saez, who was hired by the Burning Man owners to study the geyser, reported that the geyser contains "a really high amount of silica." The silica combined with the temperature has caused quartz to form inside the geyser extraordinarily quickly. Quartz typically takes up to 10,000 years to develop in geysers.<ref name=kunr/> Saez said the Fly Geyser is unlike any other geyser she has studied.<ref name=kunr/>
Water is constantly released, reaching {{convert|5|ft}} in the air.<ref name="cmdrmark"/> The geyser has formed several travertine terraces, creating 30 to 40 pools over an area of {{convert|74|acre}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fly Geyser |publisher=FlyGeyser.org |url=http://flygeyser.org/ |access-date=2010-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620232028/http://flygeyser.org/ |archive-date=2010-06-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The water produced by the geyser contains thermophilic algae, which flourish in moist, hot environments, coloring the rocks with brilliant hues of green and red.<ref name=atlas/><ref name="Moreno2008"/>
== Public access== Fly Ranch is open to small, guided three-hour nature walks from April to October of each year.<ref name=kunr>Zee, Brenda (April 6, 2018) [https://www.kunr.org/post/fly-geyser-opens-public-first-time-two-decades "Fly Geyser Opens To Public For First Time In Two Decades"] KUNR</ref> The geyser is part of the nature walk. Tours are managed and led by the Friends of Black Rock-High Rock.<ref name=visit>[https://localadventurer.com/fly-geyser-nevada-tips-for-visiting/ FLY GEYSER NEVADA TOUR – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO]</ref><ref name=fobr>{{Cite web |url=http://blackrockdesert.org/fly-geyser/ |title=Fly Geyser |access-date=2019-01-01 |archive-date=2021-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305225925/https://blackrockdesert.org/fly-geyser/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Payments for tickets for the walk are considered to be donations and are used to support Fly Ranch and the Friends organization.<ref name=visit/>
==Other local geysers== A prior well-drilling attempt in 1917 resulted in the creation of a geyser close to the currently active Fly Geyser; it created a pillar of calcium carbonate about {{convert|12|ft|m}} tall, but ceased when the Fly Geyser began releasing water in 1964.<ref name="Moreno2008"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Fly Geyser}} * [http://www.thephotostories.de/flygeyser.php Fly Geyser] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417010330/http://www.thephotostories.de/flygeyser.php |date=2019-04-17 }} {{in lang|de}} * {{cite web |title=Fly Geyser |publisher=Friends of Black Rock High Rock |url=http://www.blackrockdesert.org/friends/area_information/fly_geyser |access-date=2010-09-07 |archive-date=2013-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605185329/http://blackrockdesert.org/friends/area_information/fly_geyser |url-status=dead }} * {{cite web |title=Fly Geyser Nevada |publisher=All Over the Map |url=http://www.allovermap.com/2010/03/fly-geyser-nevada.html |access-date=2010-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209121828/http://www.allovermap.com/2010/03/fly-geyser-nevada.html |archive-date=2011-12-09 |url-status=dead }} *[https://www.raisethestakeseditions.com/fly-geyser/ Images and background of Fly Geyser] *[https://flyranch.burningman.org Fly Ranch-Burning Man Project]
Category:Burning Man Category:Geysers of Nevada Category:Hot springs of Nevada Category:Bodies of water of Washoe County, Nevada