The Blue Lagoon, photo courtesy Bengt Larsson.
This beautiful natural spa, the Blue Lagoon, described as “one of the wonders of the world” by National Geographic, is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland.
The steamy and warm waters, part of a lava formation, are rich in minerals and bathing in the Blue Lagoon is reputed to help some people suffering from skin diseases. With the water temperature about 38°C (100°F), and surrounded by a landscape of dark and twisted lava fields, it’s not surprising that the lake could sometimes look overcrowded. If you prefer not to be in the main pool, you can have a steam bath in a lava cave, a waterfall massage or a sauna.
The Blue Lagoon also operates a research and development facility to help find cures for some skin ailments using the mineral-rich water. The lagoon is fed by the water output of a nearby geothermal power plant. Superheated water is vented from the ground near a lava flow and used to run turbines that generate electricity. After going through the turbines, the steam and hot water passes through a heat exchanger to provide heat for a municipal hot water heating system. Then the water is fed into the lagoon for recreational and medicinal users to bathe in.
