Fly Geyser is a human-induced natural wonder. Located on private land in the Hualapai Flat in Nevada, it was accidentally created in 1964 during well drilling for geothermal energy testing.
Accidental Masterpiece
The well was improperly capped or left unsealed. Geothermally heated underground water (at 93°C) began rising through the borehole, carrying dissolved minerals to the surface. As calcium carbonate precipitated out of the water, it constructed alien-like travertine mounds that continue growing to this day.
Thermophilic Microbial Pigments
The brilliant greens, rust reds, and deep golds coating the terraced mounds are not minerals alone—they are thriving colonies of thermophilic algae that flourish in hot, mineral-saturated water pools.