Laugardalslaug (, "pool of Laugardalur") is a public
thermal baths 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. It is just east of the city centre and contains various recreational facilities including the main stadium. The name means "hot spring valley" (literally translates to "pool vall ...
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 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 m
2 steam bath, 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,
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,
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