minerals coat the rocks
now why would anybody do that?
hefty prices for a dip
long waiting lines
Travel agencies advertise this spa in Iceland's southwest as a must do.
Hence the Blue Lagoon draws scores of visitors who happily
pay the hefty entrance fee for the favour to take a dip in the silica and sulpher rich warm waters.
These minerals also give the
water its typical blue color.
The water is actually a waste-product from the nearby geothermal plant Swartsenge.
The
high mineral content prevents the
recycling of the water, so it is dumped in a nearby lavafield. But the minerals make
the lava impermeable and hence they have to keep digging new holes called lagoons. Not quite sustainable me thinks.
The
Blue Lagoon company has invested heavily and positions the spa as a high end luxury product. SInce 3 out of every 4 visitors
to Iceland take a paid dip here it seems a winning strategy.
We visited in July 2015, but did not get wet. Instead we strolled
along the borders of the blue ponds.
the entrance
the entrance to the spa
you can see that this lagoon was dug out
the Svartsengi plant dumps its wastewaters in the lagoons
blue water and white mineral deposits
