A must-visit dreamland on earth！The world’s largest outdoor hot spring

By MOOK Scenic Spots / Mofei
 
The Blue Lagoon (Icelandic: Bláa lónið) is also known as the Blue Lake. It is a famous geothermal hot spring in Iceland. Formed partly from volcanic lava, the Blue Lagoon has a year-round water temperature of about 37–39 °C. Rich in minerals, it is a renowned tourist destination.

The Blue Lagoon is located in Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland, approximately 13 kilometers from Keflavík International Airport and 39 kilometers from the capital city, Reykjavík.

The reason the Blue Lagoon appears blue is not only because of the silicon, minerals, and algae in the water, but also due to the way silicon refracts sunlight, creating a blue hue. In summer, algae grow more rapidly under sunlight, and since the algae are green, the lake water may appear slightly greener. The blueness of the sky also affects the shade of the lake, so depending on the weather, the water color can vary slightly.

Visitors entering the Blue Lagoon can apply the Blue Lagoon’s signature silica mud mask. The silica mud is naturally sourced from the bottom of the lake and is mainly used as a cleansing face mask, offering exfoliating, whitening, and skin elasticity benefits. Apply the white mud to your face or body for about five minutes, wait until it dries slightly, and then rinse it off.

Due to Iceland’s changeable climate, the weather at the Blue Lagoon isn’t always ideal when you’re bathing. But if you want to capture that otherworldly fairy-pool feeling, just use a bit of sunlight to backlight your subject, and you’ll be able to capture both a silhouette and the ethereal mist rising from the cold air above the Blue Lagoon.