SAGA SHOP - Haust I Fall 2019

74 Icelandair Stopover Special Promotion It’s a birthday present of note! GeoSea geo- thermal sea baths opened for business in the town of Húsavík in August 2018—a spectacularly sited and beautifully designed space on the edge of the Arctic, sending a siren call to local and visiting bathers to come and soak outdoors in silky-warm geothermal seawater (at a comfortable 38–40°C, or 100–104°F). A very welcome and unex- pected first birthday present was recently gifted to the venue by TIME magazine, with GeoSea included on its illustrious list of The World’s 100 Greatest Places of 2019. Húsavík Home One of a new breed of geothermal complexes taking its cues from the ever-popular Blue Lagoon, GeoSea was designed by award- winning company Basalt Architecture (responsible for many of Iceland’s best bathing spots) and sits in the Northeast of the country, with the whale-filled Skjálfandi bay and scenic Kinnarfjöll mountain range as its cinematic backdrop. Húsavík (population 2,300) is found in Iceland’s Northeast, a GEOSEA: ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST PLACES The perfect pit stop on the Arctic Coast Way. panorama-filled 47-mile (76-km) drive from the country’s second-largest town, Akureyri. Its past is a rich one, spanning from ancient Viking settlement to bustling fishing village, and it’s now the self-proclaimed “whale capi- tal” of the country. Boat trips, fresh seafood, craft beers and unique museums are addi- tional reasons to carve out space for Húsavík in busy travel itineraries. GeoSea’s Beginnings GeoSea’s cliff-edge location is impressive, and the sweet yellow neighboring lighthouse adds a delightful pop of color. What’s inter- esting is that the location wasn’t selected by architects seeking instant Instagram appeal, but occurred as a result of drilling for hot water in the mid-20 th century. The drilling found hot seawater—too rich in minerals to be suitable for heating houses, but with possible bathing potential. Resourceful locals couldn’t bear to see the water go to waste, so a makeshift public bath (constructed from old cheese barrels!) was created, and the healing benefits of soaking in hot seawater soon became evident. Talk turned to making a larger complex where the water could be accessible to more people. Natural Wonders These were the humble beginnings of Geo- Sea—a quintessentially Icelandic attempt to make the most of nature’s bounty. The essence of that idea remains alive and well. GeoSea’s building design features a slate- gray palette chosen to blend into the natural landscape, while the interconnected pools give infinity views and the chance to be a part of the seasonal gifts that are so much a part of everyday life in Iceland. We can think of few more beautiful places to experience the northern lights in winter, or summertime midnight sun and bird-filled skies. This is a place designed to create memories. Vitaslóð 1, 640 Húsavík Open Oct 1–Apr 30: midday–10 pm, May 1–Sep 30: 10 am-midnight geosea.is