The correct answer is option 3: throws water and steam at regular intervals. A geyser is a type of hot spring that periodically erupts, shooting a column of water and steam into the air. Unlike option 1, which suggests that a geyser throws water continuously, geysers have distinct cycles of activity. Option 4 is incorrect because geysers also expel water, not just steam. Option 2 is also incorrect because the intervals between eruptions are typically consistent rather than intermittent. Geysers are formed when underground water is heated by magma and forced upwards through narrow channels. Once the pressure builds up enough, the water and steam are ejected with force, creating the characteristic eruption. It is this regular and periodic release of water and steam that distinguishes a geyser from other types of hot springs.