Laugardalslaug (, "pool of Laugardalur") is a public

thermal baths A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as baln ...

and

swimming pool A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable Human swimming, swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built ...

complex located in the

Laugardalur Laugardalur () is a district of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Icelan ...

district of

Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...

's capital

Reykjavík Reykjavík ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. With a po ...

. With an indoor

Olympic-size swimming pool An Olympic-size swimming pool conforms to regulated dimensions that are large enough for international competition. This type of swimming pool is used in the Olympic Games, where the race course is in length, typically referred to as "long cour ...

, a 50-metre-long outdoor swimming pool, a 400 m² playing pool, 8 hot pots of various temperatures, and a 17 m²

steam bath A steam bath is a steam-filled room for the purpose of relaxation and cleansing. It has a long history, going back to Greek and Roman times. History The origins of the steam bath come from the Roman bath, which began during the height of the R ...

, it is the largest conventional swimming pool complex in Iceland. Receiving about 800,000 visitors in 2010, it is the most visited thermal baths in Iceland after the Blue Lagoon. The baths are owned by the City of Reykjavík, and are operated by its Department of Sport and Leisure (''ÍTR''; '.)

History

The complex was constructed at its current location in 1958–1968, designed by city architect

Einar Sveinsson Einar Sveinsson (16 November 1906 – 12 March 1973) was an Icelandic architect. He was the City Architect of Reykjavík between 1934 and 1973, and widely considered to have played a key role in shaping the appearance of Reykjavík in the mid-20th ...

, and was expanded in 1981–1986 by architect Jes Einar Þorsteinsson, and again in 2002–2005. The hot springs of Laugardalur were mentioned by in 1672. The springs were visited by

Uno von Troil Uno von Troil (24 February 1746 in Stockholm – 1803) was the Church of Sweden Archbishop of Uppsala 1786–1803. Biography He was the son of Samuel Troilius, who had also been archbishop. He was known for great wit at a young age. After stud ...

Archbishop of Uppsala The Archbishop of Uppsala (spelled Upsala until the early 20th century) has been the primate (bishop), primate of Sweden in an unbroken succession since 1164, first during the Roman Catholic Church, Catholic era, and from the 1530s and onward un ...

, on his journey to Iceland in 1772. He measured the water temperature at 89.4 °C.

Pools

Photos

File:Laugardalslaug 01.jpg Image:Laugardalslaug 1.jpg Image:Laugardalslaug tribune.jpg Image:Laugardalslaug.JPG

References

Links

{{commonscatinline Swimming venues in Iceland Swimming pools