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Preview: Article on the Blue Lagoon in Think GEOENERGY Magazine Issue 2

Preview: Article on the Blue Lagoon in Think GEOENERGY Magazine Issue 2 Blue Lagoon, Iceland (source: flickr/ Bods, creative commons)
Alexander Richter 11 Jun 2014

The Blue Lagoon has established itself as a unique brand in the world of geothermal spas in the world and as the number one tourist attraction in Iceland. It is one of the articles in our newly published Issue 2 of the Think GEOENERGY Magazine.

“Why would you build a power plant so close to such a great spa facility?” This is frequently the first question from visitors to Iceland’s Blue Lagoon.  It’s a valid and logical question when considering the location of the lagoon – one of National Geographic’s 25 wonders of the world.

In the recently published second issue of our Think GEOENERGY Magazine, we focus on Iceland and there was no question about the Blue Lagoon to be included in the form of an article.

Ironically, Blue Lagoon is the result of an unintentional creation that started in 1976, when run-off seawater from the Svartsengi geothermal power plant began collecting on the lowest areas of black lava close to the station. It created a surreal looking, bright blue colored pool, warm enough for people to bathe in. So they did just that, with no more than a towel and swimsuit – and some even skipped that. Something had to be done, so landowners set up some temporary container housing to provide basic services, including showers and changing rooms.

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Over time, word spread of the water’s healing effects, particularly for people with skin ailments such as psoriasis. What was once a small changing room shack and a dusty parking lot for locals has been transformed into a profitable company that employs 240 people year round and attracts more than 600,000 visitors per year.  As well as being a world renowned spa, Blue Lagoon operates a special clinic for psoriasis treatments. The company develops and markets the Blue Lagoon skin care line based on the geothermal seawater and its active ingredients: minerals, silica, and algae.

The success of Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is an inspiration to geothermal projects around the world and, not surprisingly, there are many projects hoping to replicate its success. After all, it is a unique example of how innovation can bring about big business.
The full article describes a bit  more about the location and design, as well as the products and business around the Blue Lagoon. The full article is available in our magazine, for which an electronic version will be soon available.

You can subscribe to the bi-annual Think GEOENERGY Magazine via magazine.thinkgeoenergy.com