Reykjavik, Iceland

Today we visited the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. We can now cross this off our bucket list. The day was dreary, rainy, misty, windy and generally depressing.  We weren’t sure what to expect given the fact that the weather was so crappy. Both Michael and I went as paying guests. We got there in the late afternoon and was pleasantly surprised because it did not rain while we were in the pool and the water was so delightful.  It was absolutely freezing as we got in and out of the pool.  As long as you stayed under the water, it wasn't too bad; but, boy that wind was cold.  My hair was sopping wet from the moisture in the air. Smearing the silica mud on our faces is one of the big reasons to go to the hot springs; we were hoping that it would improve our looks Ha ha ha ha 🤣. There was also a swim up bar.  Michael had a beer and I had a Diet Coke (what else!). This was the life.

Here is some information about the Blue Lagoon that I took off the Internet.

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal pool, spa and hotel located in a lava field in Iceland. It is Iceland’s most visited tourist site.  The average temperature of the Blue Lagoon’s water is a gloriously warm 100°F (38°C).  The Blue Lagoon’s water temperature is so nice that you can enjoy it in freezing air temperatures and not even notice how cold the air temperature really is (it’s true). Honestly, your body is so warm from the water that you can even run across the outside of the thermal pool (quickly on a cold day!) and not be in shock.  Note that underground the water temperature starts off at an incredible 464°F (240°C). Thank goodness it cools down before it gets to you!  The 6 million liters of geothermal seawater in the Blue Lagoon comes from 6,500 feet/1981 meters below the surface.The water you are soaking in at The Blue Lagoon is technically waste water from the geothermal power plant that you can see from the Lagoon

Surplus mineral-rich water from the nearby Svartsengi Geothermal Power Station fills up the Blue Lagoon.  Yes, the water is natural but there wasn’t a pool here before some marketing geniuses decided to create one. Technically the Blue Lagoon is not one of the natural hot springs in Iceland. Moreover, the lava field surrounding the Blue Lagoon is 800 years old. The deepest the Blue Lagoon gets is 1.6 meters so for adults its standing height. The floor is natural rock but not slimy like parts of the floor at other hot springs in Iceland. The seawater contains algae, silica and minerals. On one side of the geothermal pool is a bucket of silica mud mask. You apply to your skin, leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse. it was nice but I can’t say it was anything as special as a proper facial.