When you think of Iceland, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?
Ice right? I figure it’s probably ice. I mean it’s even in the name.
ICEland, ice, it only makes sense.
Think harder though, what’s the first attraction that comes to your mind? I bet it’s the Blue Lagoon. It was the only thing I knew about Iceland before I decided to visit, and I knew it would be high on my to do list. So the first chance I got, off I went to soak in the turquoise waters at the Blue lagoon.
And soak I did!
Iceland is famous for its hot springs. They are a geothermic hot spot after all, and the hot water literally streams and gushes from the ground. Of all their hot springs, the Blue Lagoon is the most internationally well known. However, turns out it isn’t a natural hot spring at all!
The water that fills the lagoon is actually waste water (perfectly clean waste water) that is brought up from deep underground by a geothermal power plant nearby. Once the plant takes much of the heat out of the water to create electricity, it pumps the water out into the lagoon.
You can’t really see it, but I swear there’s a geothermal plant under all that steam… somewhere.
This means that the water in the lagoon is a great temperature. It has some pockets of cooler water and some pockets of “oh god this water is too hot, I have to get back to the cooler water, stat!” water. But overall it’s a very pleasantly warm temperature.
There’s also, apparently, some really beneficial aspects to this water. The water comes from so far underground that it has special properties. They claim that it’s really good for your skin. There are even buckets of the mud that’s in the water around the lagoon so that you can give yourself an impromptu face mask! Best part is that the mud is free!
Plus it’s super duper attractive! Right? …right?
It costs 35 Euros for the basic package to get it, and that’s really all you need! Don’t pay the extra for the special mud mask when you can get the more authentic one for free after you get into the pool.
The easiest way to get there is to take one of the shuttles that goes back and forth from Reykjavik quite a few times everyday. You can catch them at the bus terminal downtown. Or you can rent a car and make your way there yourself. Once you get to the parking lot you just need to walk down the path in the general direction of the steam rising from the ground and the door will eventually come into view!
Here’s what the door looks like, so you know where to go.
So get yourself to Iceland and visit the Blue Lagoon! Get your mud mask on, soak in the warm water, and hang out at the swim up bar. They even have in lagoon massages for an extra fee, but the waterfall gives a great massage too, and it’s free.
This one’s not to be missed when out exploring Iceland!
You’ve gotta experience it for yourself!
Morgan On The Map 