by Katrin Schamun, 13.01.2009
Iceland is the land where the elves live. At the sight of the mysterious landscape of black lava rock shrouded in mist, from whose crevices steam rises here and there, one immediately believes in the existence of such mythical creatures. Under the ground there are bubbling volcanoes, majestic glaciers still change the surface of the island, there are mysterious lagoons, bubbling geysers, thundering waterfalls. Geothermal springs give birth to natural outdoor pools with hot bathing spots, which can be found all over the island and are enjoyed to the fullest by its inhabitants. When traveling, bathing suits should always be in your luggage so that you don't miss out on a dip in one of the natural outdoor pools.
Bathing in thermal baths is part of the Icelandic culture. Every city has at least one outdoor pool, fed by warm water from the depths of the earth. In Reykjavik, there are seven public baths that have saunas, swimming pools and several hot pots and are open 16 hours a day. This is where the capital's residents meet after work with friends or colleagues, or on weekends with family, and loll for hours in the warm water, talking politics or personal matters. The swimming pool is a meeting and gathering place - an important institution in Iceland.
The Blue Lagoon
Visitors can take their first dip in a natural pool immediately upon arrival, in what is probably the most famous natural hot spring, the Blue Lagoon, which can be reached by bus from Keflavik Airport in a few minutes. The spring is located in the middle of a lava field called Illahraun, lava of terror, because it is considered impassable due to its fissured surface. The bathing pool holds six million liters of geothermal sea and fresh water from a depth of 2000 meters. Bathers move about cautiously in water temperatures ranging from 37 to 39 degrees Celsius. They lie on the edges, enjoying the bath, the clear air and the view of the landscape of bizarre lava formations illuminated by the aurora borealis. Warm vapors with a slight smell of sulfur rise from the water. It is white like milk, caused by the siliceous mud, whose minerals are said to have a particularly healing effect on the skin. Blue-green algae cause the color of the lagoon to appear blue in clear skies and sunlight, which eventually led to its poetic-sounding name.
Hot and liquid from the depths of the earth
But what exactly is thermal water? It comes from deep within the earth and was originally precipitation. Over several centuries it seeped away, penetrating various layers of rock and enriching itself with minerals and trace elements at a depth of several kilometers. For its mineral enrichment, brines or limestone, but also gypsum deposits play a role. Important components found in thermal water are sodium chloride (common salt), carbonic acid, sulfur, iodine, calcium, iron, magnesium and fluorine. As the water gets closer to the earth's core, it heats up. As a rule, its temperature rises by one degree Celsius every 33 meters. Thermal water reaches the surface either through natural springs or is artificially tapped by tapping water-bearing strata.
In Iceland, hot water bubbles up from the earth almost everywhere, providing heat and hot water to nearly every household. But although natural hot water flows through the pipes in every home, Icelanders prefer a visit to a thermal spa to a bath at home. Bathing is better in community and it promotes togetherness. Perhaps their collective bathing culture also makes Icelanders one of the longest-lived peoples in the world?
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