Geothermal nature pools in Iceland

Since Iceland is an island partly floating on magma, a significant portion of the ground - water is warm and even boiling. In many places around the country, hot water surfaces at a very comfortable temperature. Sometimes, extremely hot water blends with cold and clear spring water resulting in the ideal temperature to dip into. Overall, hundreds of such sites are in Iceland—some say as many as 700. Naturally, there are some more enticing or more conveniently located than others.

Laugafell pool.

We are not talking about those innumerable roadside Jacuzzis that seem to be everywhere, originating from a hose. We are talking about the real thing— the natural geothermal pools.

Left: Winter at Landmannalaugar. Right: A natural geothermal shower at Laugavellir.

The fact is that the most delightful natural geothermal pools are in the Highland. We are not talking about those innumerable road - side Jacuzzis that seem to be every where, originating from a hose. We are talking about the real thing—the natural geothermal pools.

HOT ATTRACTIONS

From the 18th century, there have been stories involving geothermal pools. One of the most famous ones is Landmannalaugar, where farmers in the autumn, gathering sheep in the Highland took a dip in the geothermal pool after a daylong search. It was their favorite place. At the beginning of the 20th century when Icelanders and visitors started to travel to the Highland for recreational activities— hiking and driving through the difficult terrain—geothermal pools became a big attraction. At that time, Landmannalaugar became the most popular. Hveravellir, on the Highland road Kjölur also became popular as it is also surrounded by the beautiful display of boiling hot springs. In time, more geothermal pools were discovered in the Highland. Most of them were highly attractive as the size was perfect and temperature exactly right; for instance, pools like Laugafell and Strútur. In some places, the warm water blended into a small creek, falling from a small cliff forming a natural shower like at Laugavellir. Many of these places have understandably become popular among tourists as well as local people and should probably be on your list when visiting Iceland.