Seljavallalaug, Mountain swimming pool in Rangárþing eystra, Iceland.
Seljavallalaug is an outdoor pool nestled between mountains and glaciers in southern Iceland, where geothermal water keeps the pool warm throughout the year. The facility includes basic changing rooms and sits in a remote mountain valley.
Local residents built this pool in 1923, and it remained Iceland's largest swimming facility for over a decade. Newer pools constructed in the following years ended its dominance in the country.
For generations, this pool served as a gathering place where local children learned to swim together as part of school life. Today, visitors continue this tradition by enjoying the warm water in this remote landscape.
The pool requires a roughly 20-minute walk from the parking area on Road 242, so sturdy footwear is important for the uneven terrain. Basic facilities are available on site, but visitors should prepare for remote and simple conditions.
During the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption, ash blanketed the entire pool, and dedicated volunteers spent months clearing and restoring it to swimming condition. This event shows how much the community values this remote place.
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