Geothermal water in Iceland

Water is a vital natural resource in Iceland. Naturally warm geothermal water is used to power homes and has shaped the country’s rich bathing culture. Here’s everything you need to know about its uses, health benefits, and the unique bathing culture it has inspired—plus what makes Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater different from all geothermal water.

Geothermal water in Iceland: a natural resource

Geothermal water is naturally occurring groundwater heated by geothermal activity, deep within the earth. In Iceland, this water is harnessed for a variety of purposes, including heating, energy production, and bathing. Water is the country’s most important natural resource, and its abundance has made Iceland a global leader in sustainable energy use. Aquifers provide Icelanders with clean drinking water while naturally warm geothermal water heats homes and is used to produce electricity through geothermal steam, making it an essential part of daily life for locals and the nation as a whole.

The benefits of bathing in geothermal water

This naturally warm, mineral-rich water is also the foundation of Iceland’s unique bathing culture, which has been a part of daily life for centuries. Icelandic geothermal water often contains minerals such as silica, sulfur, and calcium. Bathing in these waters can offer a range of health and wellbeing benefits: warmth relaxes muscles and joints, improves circulation, and relieves stress, while the minerals can support skin health.

Beyond the physical benefits, bathing in the warm waters can also provide a mental and emotional boost, offering a calming environment to relax and rewind. It is this combination of natural warmth and the Icelandic environment that makes bathing in geothermal waters a uniquely restorative experience.

The Blue Lagoon water

The Blue Lagoon water is also geothermal, but it differs from other geothermal waters in Iceland in both origin and composition. What truly sets it apart is its unique blend of approximately 70% seawater and 30% freshwater. It's called geothermal seawater; a composition found nowhere else in the world. In fact, it was the water itself that gained National Geographic's recognition as one of the wonders of the world.

Formed deep beneath the earth’s surface where seawater and freshwater meet under extreme heat and pressure, the water is naturally enriched with silica, algae, and minerals. This unique combination gives the Blue Lagoon water properties that differ from those of all other bathing places in Iceland, and the world. The result is a bathing experience valued not only for relaxation, but also for its soothing effects on the body. Decades of scientific research into the bioactive elements have confirmed the skin healing powers.

Click here to learn more about how the unique Blue Lagoon water is formed and why it is so unique—and, for those who wish, experience it firsthand.

Blue Lagoon: A gateway to bathing tradition

While Icelanders have always known the magic of soaking in warm water, Blue Lagoon was one of the first places to share that magic with the world. Long before lagoons became a bucket list item, the Blue Lagoon welcomed visitors from around the globe to experience both this unique cultural heritage and the iconically blue healing water of wonder that Blue Lagoon is famous for.

Because the iconic blue water is naturally self-cleansing and free of added chemicals like chlorine, showering before entering isn’t just a polite suggestion—it’s essential. This tradition of cleanliness is shared at pools and bathing places across the country and reflects the respect Icelanders have for the water and each other. You can read all about the Icelandic bathing etiquette here.