Reykjanes and Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon
Almost every visitor to Iceland stops in the Reykjanes peninsula because Keflavik International Airport is here. But this region of the country, only a half-hour drive from the capital, has a range of attractions. This is the only point in the world where a deep sea ridge is coming onto the shore. This is the where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly separating at a rate of just under 1 inch per year, leading to geological activity. There is even a spot where you can walk on a bridge from North America to Europe!
There are many walking trails in the Krysuvik area, through ancient lava fields and regions literally steaming with geo-thermal activity.
Individuals with an interest in Iceland’s historic fishing industry would enjoy the Saltfish museum in Grindavik, a town just a few kilometers from the Blue Lagoon and there is a Viking museum in Keflavik, which features a Viking ship which was constructed to sail from Iceland to North America in 2000.
The Blue Lagoon is a unique geothermal spa. A visit to the Blue Lagoon is an invigorating and exciting experience, whether you choose to bathe in the delicate waters surrounded by snow in the middle of winter, or while enjoying the long days of summer.
The geothermal spa''''''''s state-of-the-art facilities include modern changing rooms and showers, an indoor Blue Lagoon pool, a conference room and a restaurant overlooking the Blue Lagoon. A geothermal beach, lava caves and silica mud are parts of the lagoon area. In addition to bathing in the lagoon, guests enjoy relaxing in a lava cave and a unique geothermal steam bath.
The Blue Lagoon''''''''s warm water and natural active ingredients of salts, silica and blue green algae help guests relax and escape the stress and strain of daily life. The Blue Lagoon''''''''s white silica mud gently cleanses and exfoliates and revitalizes the skin while the blue green algae nourishes and softens the skin. Even Icelanders with skin ailments are sometimes sent here on their doctor’s orders!
Water at the Blue Lagoon
The Sudurnes Regional Heating Corporation uses geothermal water from boreholes reaching depths of more than 6,000 feet (2,000 meters). Due to the proximity of the sea that seeps into the underground water system, the water is saline and this, along with the presence of various minerals, makes it unsuitable for direct central heating purposes.
The geothermal seawater is used to heat spring water, which is used for central heating. At the outlet point, the water from the power station, which has a temperature of 158 °F (70 °C) and a salt concentration approximately equal to that of the sea, has formed a lagoon in the surrounding lava field. In this unique ecosystem, high levels of silica, minerals and algae form light natural sediment on its bottom and give the lagoon its rich blue color.
The geothermal seawater is taken directly from the well and transferred via pipeline to the Lagoon. When the temperature of the water reaches about 320°F/160 °C, it travels under air pressure and is then directed through special mixing wells where the water is cooled down to comfortable bathing temperatures of around 98 - 102°F/36 - 39 °C.
