Day 55 - The Famous Blue Lagoon
The 25th Wonder of the World According to National Geographic
August 15, 2023: Last full day of our Summer 2023 Rove and the last full day in Iceland. We had a little shopping we wanted to do for a few gifts to bring back and there was a Food Court that our tour guide had recommended where we decided to grab lunch, but the highlight of the day was the famous “Blue Lagoon”.
The Blue Lagoon history dates back to 1976 and formed next to the geothermal power plant. Engineers at the facility had expected the water to seep through the lava and return to the earth’s volcanic aquifers. However, due to the fluid's high concentration of silica, proper drainage did not occur and a beautiful body of water took shape. The lagoon’s unique abilities were first discovered when local residents began to bathe in the warm blue reservoir that had formed in the lava field. As the story goes, in 1987, a doctor from Reykjavík—Grímur Sæmundsen—after seeing the results in his patients with psoriasis, began to envision a more formalized future for the enchanting site. He imagined a place of health and wellbeing galvanized by the bioactive properties of geothermal seawater. The lagoon soon became the focus of intense scientific study, giving birth in 1992 to Blue Lagoon Limited, a company started by Sæmundsen and dedicated to the research of the water’s primary elements: silica, algae, and minerals. In 1999, the modern-day spa facility opened and, in 2005, a clinic hotel for the treatment of psoriasis. Then, in 2018, the company opened the Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland, a luxurious geothermal resort encompassing a luxury hotel, a subterranean spa, a terraced lagoon, and the Lava restaurant. The Blue Lagoon was chosen in 2012 as one of National Geographic’s 25 Wonders of the World. The site receives 700,000 visitors each year.
We spent three hours enjoying this wonder of nature. They had a walk-up bar and seating around the edges to relax and enjoy the healing qualities and warmth of the water. Then we enjoyed some Prosecco at the Lava restaurant bar that was included in our package. The entire experience was so cool. We decided that next time we would like to try out some of the other less popular thermal pools around the area. We found out each city/area has one. There were so many things we didn’t get a chance to see in Iceland since we only had a short 3-night stopover. We will definitely be coming back in the future to explore more of this hidden gem. I can’t believe I didn’t come here sooner!!
After our bus ride back to the hotel, we grabbed dinner at a local restaurant nearby and then finished our packing. Tomorrow we start our trek back to the United States. We counted that during this trip we stayed in 17 different beds. It will be wonderful to sleep in our own bed when we get home!