NAUTHÓLSVÍK More often than not, Icelandic beaches, with their jet-black sand and lethal rip tides, have nothing in common with their counterparts closer to the equator. The goldensanded geothermal beach at Nauthólsvík in Reykjavík is the exception that proves the rule; a little piece of paradise. The North-Atlantic Ocean around Iceland is much too cold to bathe in, but we do have an impressive amount of geothermal energy. Some enterprising minds saw a possibility in our situation and the Nauthólsvík geothermal beach was opened in 2001 to the delight of residents and tourists alike. The creation of the geothermal beach was an ambitious project involving the construction of a lagoon with large
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sea walls, where cold sea and hot geothermal water blend together for the perfect temperature. The locals have welcomed this chance to bathe in the ocean and still avoid hypothermia and on sunny days, the beach fills up with people of all ages enjoying the warm water. The main objective of creating the geothermal beach was to establish the bay of Nauthólsvík as a diverse outdoor area and haven for recreational activities, such as sunbathing, swimming and sailing. No matter the season, there are people enjoying the use of the hot-tubs, steambath and changing facilities and showers, even when the water drops below freezing.
SEA SWIMMING
One activity in particular has become surprisingly popular all year round; sea-swimming. Cold-water swimming might sound crazy, especially in a country like Iceland, however this extreme activity dates all the way back to the age of settlement. The oldest recorded sea-swimming feat was performed in the year 1030, when Grettir Ásmundarson (of Icelandic Saga legend) swam a distance of 7km across a bay in North Iceland to the island of Drangey.