On the ever so popular Snæfellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, you will not only find breathtaking nature, waterfalls, volcanic craters, a glacier, beautiful mountains and rock formations, gorges, pink and black beaches, but also natural mineral springs.
I love one in particular, where the water is very pure, tasty, and bubbly. It has got the long name Rauðamelsölkelda.
Top photo: Rauðamelsölkelda
Rauðamelsölkelda mineral spring
Rauðamelsölkelda
Rauðamelsölkelda is my favourite natural mineral spring on the peninsula.
I know, the name of this mineral spring is a mouthful, but to make it a tad easier, then "ölkelda" is the Icelandic word for a natural spring, and "rauðamels-" means Red gravel plain.
Rauðamelsölkelda is amongst the best-known natural mineral springs in Iceland. The water is believed to have healing properties and is ever-so-refreshing.
Rauðamelsölkelda
The water in Rauðamelsölkelda has carbonic acid, so it looks like it is boiling. It is just amazing to drink water like this, straight from the earth.
We bottle some of the water and take it home with us when we visit this spring.
Rauðamelsölkelda is a bit off the beaten path. It is located on the southern side of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, turning from road 54.
If you are driving west on the peninsula, turn right onto a gravel road by the sign Gerðuberg (opposite road 54, which is road no. 567, but I haven't seen a road number for the road leading to Rauðamelsölkelda).
Lava formations on the way to Rauðamelsölkelda
The road to Rauðamelsölkelda is gravel, and the scenery is amazing, with all kinds of strange-looking lava formations that make for excellent photo opportunities. It was foggy on the way, so my photos have a blue hue.
Once you reach the sign below Rauðamelsölkelda, park in the parking lot and walk for some 10-15 minutes through a lava field.
Don't worry about the yellow sign which says: "All use of a firearm is strictly forbidden. This area is under surveillance".
I have often been asked what this sign means, but it is for hunters, and all hunting is forbidden here by the landowners.
The sign leading to Rauðamelsölkelda
Along the way, there is such pretty lava with thick springy moss on top. I love such thick moss; it is ever so soft.
Moss is a delicate thing, though, and it takes a very long time for it to grow, so let's be careful so it won't get ruined. It breaks my heart when I see torn-up moss.
I understand entirely that not everybody knows how delicate moss is. I have seen it torn up in several places on my travels in Iceland, but I don't think people do this on purpose; they don't know how long it takes for the moss to grow.
Tearing it up leaves an ugly wound, which takes a very long time to heal.
Lava field by Rauðamelsölkelda
Just imagine how hardy this moss is, on the other hand, being able to grow on lava.
This moss is called hraungambri or Lamb's wool moss (Racomitrium lanuginosum).
Not long ago, it was on the news that tourists camping in Þingvellir National Park had torn up a lot of moss to insulate their tent.
We Icelanders were shocked to see this footage on TV, but the poor tourists were remorseful as they had not realised that it is forbidden to tear up the moss.
Lava field by Rauðamelsölkelda
Seeing that moss can grow on lava, it covers the cracks in the lava, making lava fields dangerous to walk on.
As children, we were always forbidden to walk on lava fields because it is easy to break one's leg, get stuck in a hole, or even fall into one, which has happened.
Now, this travel blog was not meant to be about moss, so let's get back to the mineral springs on the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
Bridge on the way to Rauðamelsölkelda
On the way to Rauðamelsölskelda, you pass the lava field, cross a bridge, and the landscape changes and becomes grassy.
There is a pretty waterfall by the end of the valley, which you can visit after you have a drink at Rauðamelsölkelda. This is such a lovely place to visit.
Ölkelda mineral spring
Ölkelda mineral spring
You will find another mineral spring at Ölkelda farm. This mineral spring is quite different from Rauðamelsölkelda.
Here, the ground is red from iron, and the water has a strong iron taste.
Ölkelda was built up in 1904 by the farmer at Ölkelda farm. Before that time, it welled up from a hole in the ground.
It is believed that the water has health benefits, and farmers at Ölkelda have used it for centuries.
Ölkelda mineral spring
Visitors can come and bottle some water for personal use - please leave some money in the honesty box.
The water has been analysed and is said to be good for people with diabetes, heart problems, and kidney problems.
It contains iron, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, fluorine, chlorite, sulphate, bicarbonate, and carbonic acid.
Filling a bottle at Ölkelda
I am sure the water is healthy, so I bottle it whenever I travel in this area and thank the farmer for allowing me to do so by leaving money in the honesty box.
Once, when I visited Ölkelda, I was on my second guided tour with Tröll Expeditions, with a group of friends. I was nauseous and was wondering how to survive a 12-hour tour of the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
I drank a glass of the mineral water, and the nausea vanished! So there is something in the water...
The information sign by Ölkelda
Ölkelda is also on the south side of the Snæfellsnes peninsula and a short distance from the main road 54.
When driving west on the peninsula, turn right on Road 571 and drive for a short distance.
Lýsuhólslaug geothermal mineral water
Soaking in Lýsuhólslaug back in 2008
Lýsuhólslaug is a geothermal mineral water pool on the south side of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. I always visited Lýsuhólslaug when I camped by the golden beach at Langaholt.
It is pure geothermal mineral water with no added chemicals. It can get pretty green at times, with a green tinge floating in the water and adhering to the pool walls.
I later learnt that it is green algae. The water is supposed to be very healthy.
I have heard that if you taste the water in one of the corners of the pool, then it tastes like bottled mineral water, but don't take my word for it ;)
Lýsuhólslaug was renovated in 2019.
By the Snæfellsjökull glacier
I always drive around the peninsula in a private car, but have on a couple of occasions joined guided tours with the friendly people from Nicetravel and another guided tour by Tröll Expeditions.
If you want to use my Snæfellsnes travel-blog parts I-IV as a guide, you can rent a car in Reykjavík and drive up to Snæfellsnes in a couple of hours.
My travel guide on the Snæfellsnes peninsula will take you around the most interesting sights on the peninsula.
It includes a lot of folklore and information, so it has turned into a mini-book about Snæfellsnes. I hope you will enjoy virtually travelling with me :)
Have a lovely time exploring the beautiful Snæfellsnes peninsula :)
