Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development

The Blue Lagoon

The United Nations have declared 2017 as the Year of Sustainable Tourism for development. Sustainable tourism is defined as the development or activities in tourism that respect the environment and ensure long-term protection of natural and cultural resources. The Blue Lagoon in the Reykjanes peninsula formed in 1976, fed by the water output of the nearby geothermal power station in Svartsengi in Grindavík. It soon became clear that bathing in the lagoon had positive effects on the psorisasis skin disease. The reservoir has over time become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. Its ecosystem is one of its kind in the world. The lagoon holds nine million liters of geothermal seawater which is renewed every 40 hours. Its temperatue is of 37-39°C.

The Mývatn Nature Baths

The United Nations have declared 2017 as the Year of Sustainable Tourism for development. Sustainable tourism is defined as the development or activities in tourism that respect the environment and ensure long-term protection of natural and cultural resources. The Mývatn Nature Baths are located close to Reykjahlíð. Since the settlement period they have been used as health baths. They consist of natural saunas, nature baths with hot spring water and hot tubs. Mývatn is Iceland‘s fourth largest lake and renowned for its diverse nature and birdlife. Geological formations are diverse and the ground is hot in most places since the area is within the active volcanic belt. There are frequent eruptions, the last one happening in 1984.