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Where it's at
Iceland’s volcanic landscape is rugged and dramatic with
barren lava fields, hot springs and jets of steam spewing
from cracks in the earth. The Blue Lagoon is one of
Iceland’s main geological attractions, situated next
to a geothermal power plant which attracts over 100,000 visitors
annually.
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Hot stuff: bathing in the blue lagoon
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Spa therapy
It is a unique geothermal spa where you can bathe in naturally
heated waters surrounded by snow. It’s active natural
ingredients; salts, silica and blue green algae take the stress
and strain from daily life and the waters are thought to contain
healing powers for psoriasis, skin diseases, eczema. The white
silica mud cleanses and exfoliates the skin but it
is the combination of blue algae and white muds
that give the lagoon a milky, aquamarine colour. Visitors
can bathe in the pleasantly warm waters which heat to around
37C all year round.
What is geothermal power?
The lagoon is set in a geothermal area situated 10 minutes
from Keflavik international airport. A geothermal area is
where warm water ascends through cracks in the earth’s
volcanic crust. Cold rainwater flows into the rock’s
porous surface and is heated in the magma chamber where it
ascends to the surface. As it gets hotter, it produces jets,
sprays, and bubbling natural spas. In the Hveragerdi area,
hot springs do occasionally bubble up in people’s living
rooms as the activity under the crust of the earth is constantly
on the move and ready to explode at any time.
The geothermal heat is used as a form of natural energy, heating
houses, and even in pre-electric power generation times the
springs were used for cooking a special bread baked in steam
boxes called “rugbraud” or hot spring bread,
which is still baked in the region. Unique fauna are seen
in the area like hot spring flies and spiders and
thermophiles - heat loving bacteria. |
