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Blue Lagoon spa in Iceland reopens to tourists after volcanic eruption

03 June 2024 , 11:31
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The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa (Image: No credit)
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa (Image: No credit)

The popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions in the country's southwest, was reopened Sunday after authorities said a nearby volcano had stabilized after erupting four days earlier.

Visit Iceland's chief, Oddny Arnarsdottir, announced that after a fresh assessment of the danger zones, it was all clear for tourists to return. "Blue Lagoon opened again today," she confirmed. Tourists were seen soaking up the experience, marvelling at the erupting crater from the comfort of the lagoon's steamy waters. North Carolina's own Cameron and Natalie Pacileo couldn't hide their excitement.

"It's pretty wild. It's a beautiful view, and nice that they reopened so we can experience it," gushed Natalie Pacileo. Wednesday's eruption marked the fifth and fiercest since the slumbering volcanic system sprang back to life in December, after lying dormant for 800 years.

The latest spectacle saw lava spewing, with the fissure stretching an impressive 3.5 kilometers (2.1 miles). Last week's volcanic drama put Grindavik, home to 3,800 souls, on high alert, prompting the evacuation of the beloved spa.

Situated a mere 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of Reykjavik, Iceland's bustling capital, Grindavik has been living on edge since a series of quakes in November led to a preemptive evacuation ahead of the initial eruption on Dec. 18.

Later eruptions even devoured several structures. Iceland, known for its volcanic activity due to its location above a hot spot in the North Atlantic, frequently experiences eruptions. The most disruptive in recent memory was the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which caused massive ash clouds leading to extensive airspace closures across Europe.

Lawrence Matheson

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