The blue lagoon, the hot spring - where is it? History, description, photo

The Blue Lagoon is a hot spring, one of the most beautiful places in Iceland. Its pool is formed due to volcanic activity. Therefore, water constantly heats up in the lower geological layers.

However, the Blue Lagoon - a hot spring is not entirely natural. The water here is a waste of the production of a nearby geothermal power plant that uses heated water and gives cooling to the pool. Its temperature is forty degrees Celsius on average. Below this limit, it practically does not drop even in the coldest winters. The lake is located thirty-nine kilometers from Reykjavik.

The Blue Lagoon is a hot spring, known all over the world

So, more. The Blue Lagoon is a hot spring that belongs to one of the most popular sights of Iceland. Every year the thermal complex is visited by about three hundred thousand people. The city of Grindavik, on the territory of which the source is located, is precisely this, in the first place, and is famous. Warm waters of azure, tender-blue and milky shades have different healing properties due to the multitude of minerals. The width of the reservoir is about two hundred meters, the length is about two kilometers, the depth is from one to three meters.

Natural features

The Blue Lagoon is a hot spring located on the Reykjanes peninsula, formed mostly from porous lava. Sea water seeps through its small cracks and very quickly heats up, in contact with magmatic rocks. Deep beneath the ground, natural reservoirs are filled. This geothermal liquid can be heated to a temperature of about two hundred and forty degrees Celsius.

Man-Made Pool

In general, the Blue Lagoon is a hot spring in Iceland, created by people's hands. The water comes from the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power plant. It is updated every two days. If earlier anyone could swim in geothermal sources absolutely for free, today the situation has changed. Blame everything - frequent cases of getting burns. The pool area is now fenced, and the water temperature is regulated.

The area on which this famous landmark is located belongs to one of the high-temperature regions of the country with powerful geothermal activity. It lies at the junction of the Eurasian and American tectonic plates. In order to rationally use natural resources for the benefit of the people of the territories nearby, in 1976 a power station was built. To extract geothermal fluid, the power company drills wells in underground reservoirs with a depth of up to two thousand meters. Hot water is sent from the bowels of the earth to its surface, after which it is used to start turbines that generate electricity. Thus, this unique power plant performs two tasks simultaneously. It produces not only electricity, but also hot water intended for centralized water supply. In this - its main task. After its implementation, the water enters these famous pools.

A bit of history

About the alleged healing properties of this water, people learned in 1981. At this point, they began to take hot baths here. In 1992, for all comers, the Blue Lagoon geothermal complex was opened. Hot spring - the lake is incredibly popular today. On the territory of the complex for several years also operates a center for special research and development. His work is focused on the creation of spa services and various products to help achieve treatment for all sorts of skin diseases. For this, water is used, enriched with minerals.

Healing properties

Thus, the Blue Lagoon is a hot spring, the rest of which brings considerable benefits. Two third of the complex consists of sea water. The rest is freshwater. The "cocktail" source includes silicon, mineral salts and blue-green algae. They contribute to the treatment of many skin diseases, including psoriasis. Thanks to local healing mud, the skin is deeply cleansed and heals. Algae perfectly soften and nourish it.

Not only useful, but also beautiful

Look at any tourist catalog. The Blue Lagoon is a hot spring, the photo of which simply fascinates with its beauty. As soon as the temperature of the water in the basin drops to thirty-seven degrees Celsius, the saturation of silicon in its composition improves enormously. This contributes to the formation of a white mass, familiar to visitors of the spa complex. Porridge is filled with small cracks in the lava formations. Accordingly, the Blue Lagoon is able to expand all the time. Thanks to the same silicon, the reservoir itself is painted in a special way. Light rays refract its molecules, thereby providing a bluish color to the water. Under such conditions, living organisms can not live. This ensures crystal clear water - all kinds of harmful bacteria are absent here.

Around the reservoir for several kilometers are lifeless frozen black lava flows. Together with the bluish waters of the pool, they create a magnificent picture. In a word, the species are truly magical.

Rest on the territory

And finally. A lot of positive reviews get the Blue Lagoon. A hot spring rest on the lake provides with all amenities and benefits. The spa complex offers its visitors a clinic, restaurants, a shop, a cafe, a recreation area with the same-named hotel for fifteen seats. Here everyone can find entertainment to their liking. Someone prefers to swim in the pool and relax in the jacuzzi with geothermal water. Someone enjoys the massage. Someone enjoys cosmetic procedures for face and body care. The complex provides various wellness programs lasting from one to several days.

The spa is open for visits every day for a whole year from early morning until late evening, and in July-August - even until nightfall. Although there are changes in the schedule - for example, during the New Year and Christmas holidays. The operating time, respectively, must be specified in advance.

The cost of entrance tickets to the territory of this resort also varies. Adults will spend from thirty to forty euros depending on the period. Adolescents and disabled people will need fifteen euros. Children under the age of thirteen can enjoy the spa complex free of charge, accompanied by an adult.

The center is located about twenty kilometers from Keflavik Airport. The way to the Blue Lagoon takes about twenty minutes from there. Several times a day, shuttle buses run here. In addition, local tour operators regularly organize trips to the thermal complex.

In a word, the Blue Lagoon is a great place for a good rest. You can rest assured that here you will spend your free time with great pleasure. Be sure - you will not regret!