Iceland Day 5 – Blue Lagoon

First thing first, I promised some of you that I would post a photograph of the landscape that you see when your plane first lands in Iceland. I do my best to describe this bizarre landscape here, but hopefully the photo will stand for itself as well. Since the Blue Lagoon is located in the middle of this landscape, and in between Keflavik International Airport and Reykjavik City, it is relevant that I post the photograph here. So, here is the massive 1,000-year-old lava-rock field that makes-up some of the desolate environment throughout Iceland:

The Blue Lagoon Spa is so out-of-this-world that it is almost indescribable. Going for a swim within the baby-blue geothermal seawater is like nothing I have ever experienced before.

The Blue Lagoon is a Spa that specializes in health, wellness, and skin care, provided by geothermal energy. The entire operation is powered solely on Iceland’s unique geothermal energy system which I describe in far more depth in my other post, here. The Lagoon is massive, approximately 5,000 m2 and at any given time holds 1,585,032.3 gallons of geothermal seawater, all of which is naturally replenished by the geothermal spring within a 40-hour period. Within these waters are three main ingredients:

Algae: Good for anti-aging. Fun fact – According to the Blue Lagoon, 60% of the 200 different microorganisms found in the Lagoon’s algae are new species.

Silica Mud: Good for strengthening. Silica deep-cleanses the skin and strengthens the skin’s barrier.

And lastly –

Minerals: Good for revitalizing. Both seawater and fresh spring water combine in the Blue Lagoon to create a healthy combination of natural minerals for revitalizing and remineralizing the skin.

Another fun fact: When bathing at the Blue Lagoon, you literally swim over two different tectonic plates; the Euro-asian and North American tectonic plates meet at the Blue Lagoon.

* All above facts based off of the Blue Lagoon and can be found at http://www.bluelagoon.com/Shop/A-Naturceutical-Brand/Active-Ingredients/ 

The Blue Lagoon has everything going for it. The geothermal waters are warm enough to keep you comfortable in the Winter, even when it snows on top of your head while you’re swimming (a highly recommended experience if you can time this properly), but the water isn’t too hot to make it uncomfortable for Summer bathing either. Whether you want to bathe all day long (and even enjoy a beer while you do so), or sit in for a natural steam bath in a “steam-cave” with geothermal steam pouring out of the rocks around you, or even relax in the indoor lounge and pay for a massage, you can do it all. No matter what your taste, the Blue Lagoon certainly offers a stress-free day of relaxation.

Here are quite a few photographs of the Blue Lagoon, Iceland:

The walkway through the lava-field to the entrance of Blue Lagoon.

Too cold for you outside? That’s alright, feel free to enter the warmth of the geothermal waters from the inside, if you’d like.

This map shows you everything you need to know about Blue Lagoon. This includes where you are, where the water gets deeper, how to get to the geothermal steam baths, how to get to the silica mud pots, and even offers readings of the water temperature from different places within the lagoon.

A place to hang your towel for when you’ve had your fill of swimming in the warm water. However, I advise you to be careful. Since you are required to shower prior to entrance to the Lagoon, your towel will probably be damp, and if swimming in the Winter months your towel may be prone to freezing by the time you’re done. I know from experience, it isn’t fun!

Head over for a swim by the natural geothermal steam pouring out of the boiling “hot-pot” of water in the middle of the deeper side of the lagoon. Caution: Boiling water tends to splash in the wind. While it wont necessarily burn you, it does allow a very hot surprise.

 

Take a shower in the warm waterfall…

Or head in the direction of the silica mud-pots and steam baths…

Especially in this Steam-Cave…

Or lounge about and enjoy the blue-water scenery against the lava-rock landscape from the warmth of the indoors…

 

But personally, I’d rather swim…

…

Or maybe head outside to photograph the beautiful  part of the Lagoon where no swimmers are allowed.

I was going to end here, but here is one last photograph:

I just love the way the water looks here. But that’s the Blue Lagoon! Overall, to fully understand the experience you absolutely have to visit and go for a swim yourself.

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I’ve been sitting in the airport for quite some time now. I’d like to thank WordPress for the honor of being Freshly Pressed with the post before this one– which can be accessed here. Upon my return, I never expected to see that in my email, so thank you. And thanks to everyone else who came on this brief journey with me from the comfort of your homes!

However, I still have many photographs from Iceland to post, so grab a chair, stick around…

Until then,

– Nate