5 Jun 2017 - Iceland Day 11: Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon (Bláa lónið in Icelandic) geothermal spa is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland. The spa is located in a lava field in Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwestern Iceland.  It is one of the 25 wonders of the world.

The geothermal water has a unique composition, featuring three active ingredients – Silica, Algae and Minerals. The blue colour comes from the silica and the way it reflects sunlight. During summer there can also be a hint of green in the water. This is the result of the algae, which multiplies quickly when exposed to direct sunlight. Actually the water is white. If you pour it into a transparent cup, it will always have a milky white colour. The sun simply makes it look blue!

Iceland has a strict code of hygiene and guests are required to shower before bathing in the communal showers, which are split up by gender. Children under the age of 9 years old, which applied to Javier, are only allowed entry with the use of armbands, provided free of charge.

The outdoor temperature was about 7-8°C but the water temperature was between 37-40°C.  Once we were in the water, it was so comfortable that no one would be thinking of leaving.

The geothermal water originates 2,000 metres below the surface, where freshwater and seawater combine at extreme temperatures. It is then harnessed via drilling holes at a nearby geothermal power plant, Svartsengi, to create electricity and hot water for nearby communities.

Want to guess what time it was when the below photos were taken?  It was almost 10pm!

Spa amenities such as applying Silica Mud Mask are included in the admission. The mask is delivered at the Silica bar, located in the lagoon. We could apply as much as we want to our face and body, before leaving it on for at least 5 minutes. When we wash it off, we could feel a significant difference in the softness of our skin.

There are 2 types of face masks (one grey and one white) which we actually tried both.

We spent more than 2 hours in Blue Lagoon but wished that we could stay longer.  :-)

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