Iceland Travel Journal 冰島旅行日記 2 - 2019.10.14 Blue Lagoon 藍湖溫泉

Day 1's Notes 第一天的雜記

The Blue Lagoon is recognized as one of National Geographic’s 25 Wonders of the World.

Iceland has a long history of utilizing its powerful geothermal resources. The geothermal seawater originates 6,561 feet below the surface. The underground hot water, which can reach temperatures as high as 200°C, is tapped for various uses. This geothermal fluid is a combination of freshwater and seawater, rich in dissolved minerals, making it unsuitable for direct residential use as it would damage pipes. Instead, the superheated fluid is first routed to a nearby geothermal power plant to generate electricity. This process also heats up treated freshwater, which is then transported to surrounding communities for heating homes and general use.

The fluid used in the power plant is ultimately discharged into the nearby lava wasteland. Because the surrounding lava field is relatively new and full of cracks and holes, the discharged water initially flowed in and quickly disappeared underground. However, as the water cooled, the abundant silica within it separated, forming a mud that created a thick, impermeable layer within the lava rock. This natural sealing process eventually prevented the water from seeping away, thus forming and sustaining the unique, man-made Blue Lagoon.

The water in the lagoon is naturally renewed every 48 hours. When it emerges, its temperature is typically between 98°F and 104°F (37°C - 40°C). The unique composition of silica and minerals gives the water its striking, milky blue color. The warm, mineral-rich waters—particularly high in silica and sulfur—are reputed to have therapeutic benefits, with bathing in the Blue Lagoon thought to aid those suffering from skin conditions such as psoriasis.

The Blue Lagoon is conveniently located approximately a 15-minute drive from Keflavík International Airport and is also near the center of Reykjavík. It has become one of Iceland's most visited attractions. If you plan to enjoy the spa, advance planning and early booking are strongly recommended. We visited the area but chose not to enter the pool. Nevertheless, the site is worth spending time exploring.

《國家地理》將藍湖溫泉評選為世界25大奇迹之一。

冰島利用其豐富的地熱資源有著悠久的歷史。這些地熱水來自地下六千五百呎。地下熱水溫度可高達攝氏 200 度，被用於各種用途。然而這種地熱流體是淡水和海水的混合物，富含溶解礦物質，因此不適合直接用於居民生活，因為它會損壞管道。取而代之的是將過熱流體先輸送到附近的地熱發電廠發電。這個過程還會把處理過的熱(淡)水输送到附近社區，供家庭取暖和一般用途。

發電廠使用的液體最終會排放到附近的熔岩荒地。由於周圍的熔岩地相對較新，且遍布裂縫和孔洞，排放的水最初流入地下，並迅速消失。然而，隨著水冷卻，其中豐富的二氧化硅在冷却時會和水分離，形成泥漿，在熔岩內部形成了一層厚厚的、不透水的密封層。這種天然的密封過程最終阻止了水的滲漏，從而形成並維持了獨特的人工藍湖溫泉。

藍湖溫泉中的水每 48 小時自然更新一次。水流出時，溫度通常在 37°C 至 40°C（98°F 至 104°F）之間。獨特的二氧化矽和礦物質成分賦予了湖水引人注目的乳藍色。溫暖、富含礦物質的水——尤其是二氧化矽和硫磺含量很高——據說具有治療功效，在藍湖溫泉沐浴被認為有助於治療牛皮癬等皮膚病。

藍湖溫泉地理位置優越，距離凱夫拉維克(Keflavík)國際機場僅約 15 分鐘車程，且靠近雷克雅維克(Reykjavík)市中心。它已成為冰島最受歡迎的景點之一。因此它成為大多數游客抵達冰島的首選景点，或者是離開冰島前的最後一站。如果您計劃體驗泡湯，強烈建議提前規劃並儘早預訂。我們參觀了這地區，但沒有選擇進去泡湯。儘管如此，這裡仍然值得花時間探索。

Photo Date: 2019.10.14

Blue Lagoon Surrounding Area 藍湖溫泉周邊地區風景

Keflavík International Airport 凱夫拉維克國際機場

The first place I arrived at in Iceland before Blue Lagoon, I wanted to capture the memory with some photos.

在去藍湖溫泉之前，我抵達冰島的第一站，就想用照片記錄這段回憶。

24-hour difference 24 小時的差別

The day before, it was hot in California, and I was wearing short sleeves. Upon arriving in Iceland, I had to layer on layers of clothing—it was a world of difference.

前ㄧ天在加州，天氣熱，還穿著短袖。來到冰島，ㄧ層層的衣服拼命加，真是天壤之別。

Grocery Shopping 食品雜貨購物

Driven by curiosity, I was excited to explore an Icelandic grocery store. They had two massive walk-in refrigerators: one for produce and another for meats. While I recognized most of the fruits and vegetables, the meat section was full of dried fish and other items I couldn't identify. We also stopped by Costco for a budget-friendly sushi lunch, where we spotted some unique snacks and drinks. Visiting supermarkets is truly a great way to experience the culture of a foreign country.

出於好奇，我興致勃勃地去逛了一家冰島超市。那裡有兩個巨大的步入式冷藏室：一個放蔬果，一個放肉類。雖然大部分水果蔬菜我都認識，但肉類區卻擺滿了乾魚和其他我叫不出名字的東西。我們還去了 Costco，吃了一頓價格實惠的壽司午餐，在那裡看到了一些獨特的零食和飲料。逛超市真是體驗異國文化的好方法。