Where is the Blue Lagoon?
Quick answer
The famous Blue Lagoon is in Iceland, on the Reykjanes Peninsula near the town of Grindavík, about 50 minutes from Reykjavík and 20 minutes from Keflavík International Airport. It’s a geothermal spa with warm, milky-blue water at about 37–40 °C (98–104 °F), surrounded by black lava fields.
Key facts
- Country
- Iceland
- Location
- Reykjanes Peninsula, near Grindavík
- Water temperature
- About 37–40 °C (98–104 °F)
- Opened as a spa
- 1992 (current site 1999)
Not entirely natural
The Blue Lagoon is a human-made pool. It formed in 1976 from the runoff water of the nearby Svartsengi geothermal power plant, which pumps up hot, mineral-rich seawater from deep underground to make electricity and heat homes. The used water collected in the lava field and created a lagoon.
Locals noticed that bathing in it seemed to help their skin, especially for people with psoriasis, and a spa grew up around it.
Why is it so blue?
The water is rich in silica. Tiny silica particles reflect blue light, much like the sky; see why the sky is blue. The water is also full of minerals and algae. Visitors put on white silica mud masks as part of the experience.
Living next to volcanoes
The Reykjanes Peninsula sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart; see the longest mountain range. Since 2023, a series of eruptions along the nearby Sundhnúkur crater row has repeatedly forced Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon to evacuate or close temporarily. Protective walls were built to divert lava. Visitors should check the latest updates before going.
Iceland’s geothermal power
| Use | Share |
|---|---|
| Home heating | About 90% of homes heated by geothermal energy |
| Electricity | Nearly all from renewable sources: hydropower and geothermal |
Many Icelandic towns have public geothermal swimming pools, a big part of daily life.
Other geothermal baths in Iceland
- Sky Lagoon, near Reykjavík
- Mývatn Nature Baths, in the north
- Secret Lagoon (Gamla Laugin), one of the oldest pools in Iceland
For another famous hot spring, see where the Grand Prismatic Spring is.
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