The Blue Lagoon will be closed for two weeks in early January, during which time the lagoon will be completely drained. This is the first time since 1999 since the lagoon has been drained. On January 5 the lagoon will close to visitors, only to reopen on January 22.
The reason for the closing and draining of the lagoon is that the current facilities are being greatly expanded as a new five star luxury hotel is built by the lagoon. Construction of the hotel, which began late last year, is scheduled to be completed by spring 2017.
Grímur Sæmundsen, who was a guest on the morning show of the local radio station Bylgjan, says the draining is necessary for regular maintenance: The lagoon has not been drained since the current facilities were opened in 1999. This year more than 900,000 visitors are expected to come to the lagoon, and next year the number is expected to top 1,000,000 for the first time. At the same time it was necessary to close and drain the lagoon as it is being expanded by nearly half, from 5,000 square meters (54,000 square feet) to 7,000 square meters (75,000 square feet).
Grímur told Bylgjan that the expansion would give visitors a greater sense of expanse at the lagoon, and that it would improve both service and visitor experience. Since the current phase did not include an expansion of the locker rooms, the expansion of the lagoon would only result in more space for guests and an improved experience.
The water in the lagoon is constantly renewed with geothermal sea-water, pumped from boreholes at the nearby Svatsengi power plant. It will take between 6-12 hours to fill the lagoon after it has been emptied.
The Blue Lagoon will be closed for two weeks in early January, during which time the lagoon will be completely drained. This is the first time since 1999 since the lagoon has been drained. On January 5 the lagoon will close to visitors, only to reopen on January 22.
The reason for the closing and draining of the lagoon is that the current facilities are being greatly expanded as a new five star luxury hotel is built by the lagoon. Construction of the hotel, which began late last year, is scheduled to be completed by spring 2017.
Grímur Sæmundsen, who was a guest on the morning show of the local radio station Bylgjan, says the draining is necessary for regular maintenance: The lagoon has not been drained since the current facilities were opened in 1999. This year more than 900,000 visitors are expected to come to the lagoon, and next year the number is expected to top 1,000,000 for the first time. At the same time it was necessary to close and drain the lagoon as it is being expanded by nearly half, from 5,000 square meters (54,000 square feet) to 7,000 square meters (75,000 square feet).
Grímur told Bylgjan that the expansion would give visitors a greater sense of expanse at the lagoon, and that it would improve both service and visitor experience. Since the current phase did not include an expansion of the locker rooms, the expansion of the lagoon would only result in more space for guests and an improved experience.
The water in the lagoon is constantly renewed with geothermal sea-water, pumped from boreholes at the nearby Svatsengi power plant. It will take between 6-12 hours to fill the lagoon after it has been emptied.
