Visitors to a ‘natural health spa’ in Iceland have been warned by local power plant managers that a series of warm water pools are actually filled with dangerous waste water.
They have been told to ignore social media messages promoting the pools’ health benefits and to stay away, because alongside containing waste water from the plant, the liquid can also suddenly turn boiling hot.
Local media said managers were forced to issue the warning after reports that the warm pools in the Reykjanes area have become popular with swimmers after the coronavirus saw swimming pools closed throughout Iceland.
Posts on social media reportedly claimed the waters were naturally heated to 35 degrees Celsius and full of healthy minerals, but a statement from the nearby HS Orka geothermal power plant has warned that this is potentially deadly fake news.
The plant said the pools were filled with waste water from the power station which could suddenly rise to 100 degrees Celsius, leaving swimmers at risk of being seriously burnt.
The company added that strong ocean currents close to the pools could also easily see swimmers swept out to sea.
HS Okra says swimming has always been prohibited in the area with signs warning locals of the risks. They said they would increase the numbers of signs following the pools’ increased popularity.
Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon is fed by water from the turbines of the Svartsengi geothermal plant, however areas of extremely hot water there have been separated from the part where bathers are allowed to swim.
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Story By: Alex Cope, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Central European News
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