The frozen blue world of silica at the Blue Lagoon, Iceland (explored)
The shot you see does not show the actual geothermal spa of the Blue Lagoon itself, but the area just outside. This area in the lava fields of the volcanic peninsula of Reykjanes is filled with a surplus of seawater that comes from the Svartsengi geothermal power station where also the bathing and swimming area of the Blue Lagoon derives its water from.
The unique milky blue color from the water in the Blue Lagoon can be explained by the high contents of silica, an element that reflects visible light when suspended in water. Silica, being a compound of lava, merges with geothermal seawater deep underground and when the superheated water, originally measuring 240º C under big pressure, comes to the surface and changes into a white mud. At the surface though the water has a comfortable temperature of 37-40º Celcius.
It had been very cold for several days in a row so that the water in liquid form had changed into a frozen pool. But of course the bathing area of the Blue Lagoon always keeps a nice temperature.
The rough irregularly shaped rough lava rocks are even more accentuated in their diversity by the variety of shapes and patterns of the frozen water.
The frozen blue world of silica at the Blue Lagoon, Iceland (explored)
The shot you see does not show the actual geothermal spa of the Blue Lagoon itself, but the area just outside. This area in the lava fields of the volcanic peninsula of Reykjanes is filled with a surplus of seawater that comes from the Svartsengi geothermal power station where also the bathing and swimming area of the Blue Lagoon derives its water from.
The unique milky blue color from the water in the Blue Lagoon can be explained by the high contents of silica, an element that reflects visible light when suspended in water. Silica, being a compound of lava, merges with geothermal seawater deep underground and when the superheated water, originally measuring 240º C under big pressure, comes to the surface and changes into a white mud. At the surface though the water has a comfortable temperature of 37-40º Celcius.
It had been very cold for several days in a row so that the water in liquid form had changed into a frozen pool. But of course the bathing area of the Blue Lagoon always keeps a nice temperature.
The rough irregularly shaped rough lava rocks are even more accentuated in their diversity by the variety of shapes and patterns of the frozen water.