Blue Lagoon (geothermal spa)

The Blue Lagoon is approximately 20 km (12 mi) from Keflavík International Airport, and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Iceland.

The rich mineral content is provided by the underground geological layers and pushed up to the surface at a pressure of about 1.2 MPa (12 bar) and temperature of 240 °C (464 °F), which is used by the powerplant.

Because of its high mineral concentration, the water cannot be recycled, and must be disposed of in the nearby landscape, a permeable lava field that varies in thickness from 50 to 100 cm (20 to 40 in).

[2] A psoriasis clinic was opened in 1994[6] and in 1995, the Blue Lagoon company began marketing skin products containing silica, algae, and salt.

[9] On 23 October 2023, the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management announced a level of uncertainty due to a seismic swarm in the area.

[10] The resort faced some criticism for continuing to accept customers with some likening the situation to events leading up to the 2019 Whakaari/White Island eruption.

[13] Árnadóttir criticized Þorvaldur Þórðarson [is], professor of geology at the University of Iceland, for predicting an eruption in the area, saying that there were no harmonic tremors reported.

[14] On 7 November, the tour company Reykjavik Excursions cancelled all trips to the lagoon for three days due to concern about their staff and customers' well-being.

[17][18] The management of the Blue Lagoon announced the site's closure to visitors from 9–16 November as a precaution following the earthquakes.