Gvendarlaug Hot Spring

Basic Information

GPS: 65.78146, -21.52166
Has been protected since 1989.
It is not allowed to bathe in this hot spring.

Gvendarlaug is a natural hot spring found in Westfjords. The hot spring is located out of the beaten path which means that you can often have it all to yourself. You can find numerous hot springs in the Westfjords of Iceland. All of these hot springs are known to be fed by the geothermal forces of Iceland and are naturally nurtured with hot water. What makes these geothermal water bodies a popular attraction for travelers is the limited volcanic activity of the Westfjords. It is believed that the Westfjords are among the most ancient part of Iceland, known to be as old as ten and sixteen million years.

The natural hot springs are open for travelers the whole year. Some of the hot springs have undergone some construction to make them easily accessible as well as comfortable for the tourists. However, some of the hot springs in Iceland are not open for bathing. Situated in Bjarnarfjörður of the Westfjords, Gvendarlaug is a protected hot spring, which is said to have been blessed by a local bishop – Gudmnudur the good, also recognized as Guðmundur Góði. The history of the pool goes back to the year 1237 when it was blessed for swimming by Guðmundur Góði and is believed to have healing powers. However, it has been made off-limits since the year 1989 and enlisted as a protected site, but there are other pools in the nearby areas which can be used for bathing. This includes the hot tubs in Drangsnes, Krossneslaug pool, and Nauteyrarlaug hot spring.

Attractions near Gvendarlaug

The Gvendarlaug of the southern Strandir region is located roughly 26 kilometers from Hólmavík, which is popular for the Icelandic Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft. The museum is a famous tourist attraction of this part of Iceland, designed to acquaint the visitors about the life in Iceland before industrialization and the magic which was commonly practiced with staves carved into the wood. It is believed that the staves were used to curse an enemy or ward off evil.