Blue Lagoon (geothermal spa)
Encyclopedia
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa and is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland
. The steamy waters are part of a lava
formation. The spa is located in a lava field in Grindavík
on the Reykjanes Peninsula
, southwestern Iceland. Bláa lónið is situated approximately 13km (8 miles) from the Keflavík International Airport
and 39km (24 miles) from the capital city of Reykjavík
. That is roughly a 20 minute drive from the airport and a 40 minute drive from Reykjavík
. The Blue Lagoon spa and geothermal complex is clearly visible from any of the usual satellite imagery sources at coordinates (63.880, -22.449).
. The water temperature in the bathing and swimming area of the lagoon averages 37–39 °C (98–102 °F). The Blue Lagoon also operates a Research and Development facility to help find cures for other skin ailments using the mineral-rich water.
The lagoon is fed by the water output of the nearby geothermal power
plant Svartsengi
and is renewed every 2 days. Superheated water is vented from the ground near a lava flow and used to run turbines
that generate electricity. After going through the turbines, the steam and hot water passes through a heat exchanger
to provide heat for a municipal hot water heating system. Then the water is fed into the lagoon for recreational and medicinal users to bathe in.
Iceland has a strict code of hygiene and guests are required to shower without clothing in the communal shower area before and after bathing.
It is claimed that in June 2007 the Blue Lagoon appeared green, bewildering both residents and tourists of Iceland.
The Blue Lagoon was used as the pit stop for the first leg of The Amazing Race 6
. The Blue Lagoon was used for the thermal spa scenes in the filming of Hostel: Part II. It was also shown in the Incubus
documentary Look Alive, when the band visited Iceland. It was also shown in fifth cycle
of Britain's Next Top Model
which used as photoshoot location.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. The steamy waters are part of a lava
Lava
Lava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. This molten rock is formed in the interior of some planets, including Earth, and some of their satellites. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at...
formation. The spa is located in a lava field in Grindavík
Grindavík
Grindavík is a fishing town at the peninsula of Reykjanes at the south-western coast of Iceland.It is one of the few cities with a harbour at this coast. Most of the 2,800 inhabitants work in the fishing industry...
on the Reykjanes Peninsula
Reykjanes
Reykjanes or Reykjanesskagi is a peninsula and a volcanic system situated at the south-western end of Iceland, near the capital of Reykjavík....
, southwestern Iceland. Bláa lónið is situated approximately 13km (8 miles) from the Keflavík International Airport
Keflavík International Airport
-Cargo airlines:-Ground transport:Transport between the airport and Reykjavik city is by road only. The distance is 50 km. A new fast freeway was opened 2008. The buses have a timetable adapted to the flight schedule. They go to and from the Reykjavik bus terminal, taking around 45 minutes...
and 39km (24 miles) from the capital city of Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
. That is roughly a 20 minute drive from the airport and a 40 minute drive from Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
. The Blue Lagoon spa and geothermal complex is clearly visible from any of the usual satellite imagery sources at coordinates (63.880, -22.449).
Description
The warm waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulphur and bathing in the Blue Lagoon is reputed to help some people suffering from skin diseases such as psoriasisPsoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. However, psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of...
. The water temperature in the bathing and swimming area of the lagoon averages 37–39 °C (98–102 °F). The Blue Lagoon also operates a Research and Development facility to help find cures for other skin ailments using the mineral-rich water.
Geothermal power
Geothermal energy is thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter. Earth's geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet and from radioactive decay of minerals...
plant Svartsengi
Svartsengi Power Station
The Svartsengi Power Station is a geothermal power station located in Keflavik, Iceland, near the Keflavík International Airport at the Reykjanes Peninsula. As of December 2007, it produces 76.5 MW of energy, and about 475 litres/second of hot water...
and is renewed every 2 days. Superheated water is vented from the ground near a lava flow and used to run turbines
Steam turbine
A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....
that generate electricity. After going through the turbines, the steam and hot water passes through a heat exchanger
Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger is a piece of equipment built for efficient heat transfer from one medium to another. The media may be separated by a solid wall, so that they never mix, or they may be in direct contact...
to provide heat for a municipal hot water heating system. Then the water is fed into the lagoon for recreational and medicinal users to bathe in.
Iceland has a strict code of hygiene and guests are required to shower without clothing in the communal shower area before and after bathing.
It is claimed that in June 2007 the Blue Lagoon appeared green, bewildering both residents and tourists of Iceland.
The Blue Lagoon was used as the pit stop for the first leg of The Amazing Race 6
The Amazing Race 6
The Amazing Race 6 is the sixth installment of the reality television series The Amazing Race. It premiered on November 16, 2004, and concluded on February 8, 2005.Freddy Holliday & Kendra Bentley were the winners of this Race....
. The Blue Lagoon was used for the thermal spa scenes in the filming of Hostel: Part II. It was also shown in the Incubus
Incubus (band)
Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in high school and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell;...
documentary Look Alive, when the band visited Iceland. It was also shown in fifth cycle
Britain's Next Top Model, Cycle 5
Britain's Next Top Model, Cycle 5 is the fifth cycle of Britain's Next Top Model and the fifth cycle to air on Living. With an increased budget, Cycle 5 claims to be "bigger, better and more high-fashion than ever before."...
of Britain's Next Top Model
Britain's Next Top Model
Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model is a British reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of Britain's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modelling industry...
which used as photoshoot location.