Iceland is popular for its variety of animals like Icelandic horses, many species of birds, for example, the common puffin, and numerous cetacean species. Furthermore, its unique, untouched nature with volcanoes, geysers and glaciers is worth visiting. Therefore, going there is one of my dreams. One of the sights I absolutely want to visit is the Blue Lagoon near Reykjavik.
The lake was formed as a waste product of a geothermal power station which is using the energy of a volcano nearby. The mixture of sea- and freshwater is pumped to the surface for the generation of electricity and the operation of a district heating grid and flows afterwards to the created lava field of the volcano. The lagoon has an area of 5000 square meters, and its water has a temperature of approximately 37 to 39 degrees. The blue-white color is produced from silicic acid which is part of the silica in the Blue Lagoon.
The silica-mud cleans the skin and eliminates the dead skin scales. Besides silica, the lake contains blue-green algae and mineral salts. The algae give the skin nutrients and make the skin smooth. Mineral salts have a relaxing and balancing effect. In addition, the water of the Blue Lagoon has also a healing effect because it provably eases psoriasis and other skin diseases.
On the other hand, one has to be aware that the active volcanoes there, which are the cause of this healing lagoon, could always erupt and endanger people and animals living in Iceland and beyond through its lava, the smoke and the toxic gases involved.
However, if one wants to go there, there is no direct danger because safety and warning instructions are given early enough.
By the way, the streets and the sidewalks in Reykjavik are heated through wastewater pipes which are laid under the streets. I think this is definitely also worth visiting.
Travel The World 