Strokkur belongs to the Haukadalur valley area, where various other geothermal feature such as mud pools, fumaroles and other geysers are located around it, such as the famous Geysir geyser, which lies only 50 metres (160 ft) to the north.

[3] Strokkur was first mentioned in 1789, after an earthquake helped to unblock the conduit of the geyser.

Its activity fluctuated throughout the 19th century; in 1815 its height was estimated to have been as much as 60 metres (200 ft).

It continued to erupt until the turn of the 20th century, when another earthquake blocked the conduit again.

In 1963, upon the advice of the Geysir Committee, locals cleaned out the blocked conduit through the bottom of the basin, and the geyser has been regularly erupting ever since.