Iceland:

Excess Water of Geothermal Plant Source of Thriving Spa Business (Renewable Energy World.com)

The Blue Lagoon spa with the Savartsengi geothermal power
plant in the background (Courtesy Wikipedia Commons)

"Why would you build a power plant so close to such a great spa facility?” This is frequently the first question people ask when visiting Iceland’s Blue Lagoon. This is a valid question, and there is a very logical reason for the location of Blue Lagoon, one of the 25 wonders of the world according to National Geographic”.

Rather ironically, the Blue Lagoon is the result of an environmental accident formed during the installation and operation of the Svartsengi geothermal power plant in 1976. The spill created a surreal pool of blue water, geothermal seawater, near the plant and people started to bath in the water.

Over the years, word spread of the healing effects of the lagoon’s water, particularly for people with skin ailments such as psoriasis. What was once a small changing room shack and dusty parking lot for locals has been built into a profitable company that employs 240 people year round. The Blue Lagoon attracts more than 600,000 visitors per year.

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