Thanks to volcanism, Iceland does not have an energy problem. Hardly any house in Reykjavík has a chimney, because the apartments are heated with district heating, with hot water that comes from below. One of these geothermal power plants is located in the southwest of the island and was built almost five decades ago, the excess water ran into the lava landscape, initially simply seeped away and later formed a lake there.
The first locals went to bathe in the water, which was heavily enriched with natural minerals, and noticed that the water proved to be particularly beneficial for the skin of people suffering from psoriasis.
In the late 1980s, the bathing area near the Svartsengi power station was transformed into a public bathing facility, which also became popular with Icelandic tourists. Due to the onslaught, the facility soon no longer sufficed, and in 1999 the current Blue Lagoon area was opened with a much larger infrastructure at a greater distance from the industrial site.
Where the earth boils and steams
Anyone who visits the Bláa Lónið, as it is called in Icelandic, not only finds out how well organized the country relies on high-priced tourism, but also experiences a wellness bath with a minimal CO₂ footprint.
In the main pool, which is between 1.20 and 1.40 meters deep, with its milky, cloudy, light-blue water, there are hardly any swimmers, but rather splashing bathers who enjoy the cozy warmth at exactly body temperature with a drink in their hand from the poolside bar. Some rub their faces with the white natural silicate paste.
Beauty products from the in-house care series such as the Silca Mud Mask or Mineral Moisturizing Cream can be purchased in the shop belonging to the Blue Lagoon – to extend the Iceland experience beyond your stay.
Info: www.bluelagoon.com, www.basalt.is, www.bluelagoon.com/accommodation, www.visiticeland.com
More photo galleries about the travel destination Iceland:
– Aurora Basecamp on Iceland: Where the Northern Lights shine magically
– From rustic to luxurious, these are Iceland’s most remote places to stay
– Fagradalsfjall on Iceland: 300,000 onlookers are drawn to the longest volcanic eruption in more than 50 years