Blue Lagoon, Thermal bath in Grindavíkurbær, Iceland.
Blue Lagoon is a geothermal bath in Grindavíkurbær, Iceland, fed by milky blue water from underground sources. The facility spreads across rugged lava fields with shallow pools, steam clouds, and walkways between dark rock formations.
The water emerged in 1976 as a byproduct of the neighboring Svartsengi power plant, which heats seawater for energy production. A patient with skin problems noticed healing effects in 1981 and gradually brought attention to the site.
The site started as a local bathing spot and grew into a public wellness center managed by a nonprofit foundation. Visitors move through shared changing rooms with communal showers and then step outside into steaming water.
Booking ahead is necessary because only a limited number of guests are admitted each day. The site sits about a 20-minute drive southwest of Reykjavík in open volcanic terrain with no direct public transit.
The turquoise tone of the water comes from silica, which bends and reflects light. This mineral suspension remains permanently in the water and is never deposited or removed.
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