Svartsengi

Svartsengi is a grassy area that is located north of the Sylingafell mountains and of Grindavik. The town's most prominent landmark is the geothermal power plant which occupies 150 hectares of land and generates 76.5 megawatts of energy. Located at the edge of a post-glacial lava field, the power plant was built in the late 1970s and was the world's first geothermal power plant which used high-temperature to produce hot water and electricity.
Aside from providing the surrounding communities with electricity and hot water, the Svartsengi Geothermal Power Plant's by-product is now a tourist destination known as the Blue Lagoon. This artificial lake is created with the plant's hot geothermal water, which also has a similar salt content as that of sea water. The draw of the Blue Lagoon's beneficial hot waters has spawned a luxury hotel and spa with the same name. Here, visitors can relax and enjoy the raw, natural beauty of Iceland.