Iceland volcanic landscape came in at a respectable 44 of the top 50 places to visit in a lifetime.
A place which has a landscape that could body-double for the moon and where winter temperatures can get as low as minus 15C.
Iceland has wild volcanic landscapes, mountains, glaciers, hot springs, geysers and pure clean air, but what you went mad for was bathing in the Blue Lagoon, a pool of mineral-rich geothermal seawater in a lava field in the Reykjanes peninsula.
The visual effect of the geothermal beach and the lava caves of the Blue Lagoon is quite breathtaking, and a visit to the lagoon is widely reported to be an invigorating and exciting experience.
The lagoon is actually a pool of effluent from the Svartsengi power plant.
It might not sound particularly appealing, but it attracts 300,000 visitors a year, and many satisfied patrons swear by its healing power. The pool of mineral-rich geothermal seawater is packed with natural active ingredients such as salt, silica and blue green algae.
Visitors are encouraged to swim in the warm waters and soak up the atmosphere filled with clouds of mineral laden vapours. The bottom of the lagoon is lined with chalky rocks, white silica mud and algae which gives the lagoon its rich azure hue, and the mud is used as a body scrub which is supposed to gently exfoliate the skin.
The combination of the minerals is credited with curing or relieving the effects of psoriasis, and it has been officially sanctioned by the Icelandic surgeon general.
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