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The Mývatn Nature Baths are magical Icelandic waters located next to the Ring Road in North East Iceland. Soak in the mineral waters and revel in the incredible views. Relax in the hot spring steam baths and enjoy a meal at a delicious restaurant. A must-visit place in North Iceland and one of the best pools in the country.
In the depth of North Iceland, you will find the incredible nature reserve of Lake Mývatn. Surrounding this natural wonderment are stupendously beautiful places like Hverir, Grjótagjá Hot Spring and Cave and Mývatn Nature Baths.
The nature baths are often nicknamed “The Blue Lagoon of the North” as the pools have the same intensely turquoise blue color. The color originates in the minerals and algae found in the water and when light hits the water blue color ricochets back.
The temperature of the water is about 36-40°C or 98,6 to 104 °F. The minerals of the water are truly amazing for your skin. The hot pool filled with geothermal water and the lovely steam baths invite you on a geothermal adventure not to be missed.
Visiting Mývatn Nature Baths is a completely natural experience where you bath in geothermal water drawn from the earth in completely surreal surroundings.
You are not able to see through the water due to its high levels of invigorating minerals but you are able to walk around safely as the water’s depth is very comfortable.
The water in the nature baths runs straight from the National Power Company’s borehole in Bjarnarflag. You can get pretty close to the powerplant if you are feeling curious about the origin.
The lagoon and the basin next to it together hold around 3.5 million liters (9.24 gallons) of water.
The lagoon itself is a man-made construction but filled up by completely natural and unique water.
The characteristics of the blue waters are without comparison and contain incredible amounts of minerals, algae, alkaline and silica making the waters somewhat of a healing pool for skin problems.
Fun Fact: Due to Mývatn Nature baths chemical composition, undesired bacteria and vegetation simply don’t survive in the lagoon making chloride or any other disinfectant unnecessary.
Mývatn Nature Baths are located close to Lake Myvatn in North East. It is about 105 km away from Akureyri, the capital of Northern Iceland and 489 km away from Reykjavík.
The area where the Nature Baths are located is like something from a sci-fi film.
The clouds of steam rising from the geothermal area that seems to be a no-mans-land will give you a cue on when to start looking for the sign and turn off the road onto the parking lot.
Mývatn Nature Baths are easy to find as they are located right off the famous Ring Road 1.
There are a few ways to get to Myvatn Nature baths and like we have mentioned before they aren’t hard to find.
Driving from Akureyri to Mývatn Nature baths should take about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Driving there you will go through the fertile valley Fnjóskadalur, pass the waterfall of the gods – Goðafoss and past the Mývatn area with all its steam and natural charm.
Driving from Egilsstaðir (the biggest town in the Eastfjords) to Mývatn Nature Baths should take no more than 2 hours.
It will take you past stunning sights such as Lagafljót, lake Urriðavatn, the “the white chair” viewing point and parking lot, and the turn for waterfalls Dettifoss, Selfoss and Ásbyrgi Canyon.
Driving from Reykjavík to Mývatn Nature Baths is not recommended as a one day drive, since there is simply too much to see if driven in one day.
In one go, the drive would take more than 6 hours. Some of the sights not to be missed on the way from Reykjavík to Mývatn would be Borgarfjörður, Glaumbær Turf Farm, Grettislaug pool, Akureyri, Goðafoss, Whale Watching at Dalvík, the Beer Baths in Eyjafjörður and more.
Hotels
Hostels, Guesthouses, and B&B
Cabins and Cottages
Hlíð Camping Ground is beautiful and spacious camping ground away from the flies at Lake Mývatn.
Open: All Year Round
Facilities on Site:
Visiting Mývatn Natural Baths in winter is equally as great as in summer. If you’re driving on your own you will need to be mindful of road conditions and weather but besides that, there isn’t anything stopping you from visiting.
Imagine sitting inside a steam bath where natural geothermal steam is rising up from the ground and you know that all around is snow-covered lava and landscape.
Icelanders really appreciate having their hot pools all around the country and enjoy their epic pool culture just as much in winter as they do in summer.
Join the movement and visit Mývatn Nature baths in winter. Who knows, you might even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.
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