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Imagine walking through a ghostly lava field that better resembles a science-fiction movie set than anything earthly. The moss-covered, jagged lava creates a moody landscape dotted with mossy greens. Suddenly, you come across a milky cyan blue lagoon steaming with naturally heated water, standing defiant and beautiful in the otherwise black barren landscape. Welcome to the Blue Lagoon.
Icelanders have long utilized the geothermal nature of their island for domestic and industrial use. The Blue Lagoon spa was formed in 1976, quite accidentally, around the Svartsengi geothermal power plant. The run-off water from the power plant is seawater, rich in minerals, and as the water ran through the surrounding lava field, it started to deposit silica, forming mud which effectively plugged the holes in the lava field, creating the lagoon. As the water began to collect, it acquired another of its unique attributes, a particular kind of algae that can sometimes give the water a greenish hue.
By 1981, the first Icelander had braved to bathe in it and not only deemed it pleasant but relieving for his psoriasis.
The lagoon's location next to the airport makes it the perfect stop after arriving or just before departing Iceland, and many airport transfers to Reykjavík, offer a stop at the Blue Lagoon as part of the journey.
If you would rather make a day of it, there are other tours that include a visit to this dream-like place in their itinerary. Why not have a dip in the Blue Lagoon after exploring the famous Golden Circle sightseeing route or after a day of sightseeing in Reykjavík?
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