Selárlaug

Background

History & Background

Selárlaug was built in the summer of 1949 by members of the Einherji youth association in Vopnafjörður, with much of the work carried out voluntarily. The pool was inaugurated in the summer of 1950. A nearby hot spring had already been used for bathing and later became the heat source for the pool. Until around 1975, local swimming instruction could involve pupils staying at the pool for extended courses, making Selárlaug an important part of community life as well as a recreational facility.

Selárlaug is a rural geothermal swimming pool in Selárdalur, about 12 km from central Vopnafjörður and roughly 3.5 km from Route 85 on the road toward Bakkafjörður. Visit Austurland highlights the pool for its setting: it stands directly on the banks of the Selá river, where the river runs through a shallow gorge surrounded by open East Iceland scenery. A natural hot-water spring lies close to the pool. The spring was used for bathing for many years and its water is now used to heat the swimming pool. Selárlaug was built in the summer of 1949 by members of Einherji, the local youth association, largely through volunteer labour, and was inaugurated in 1950. For many years the pool also played an important role in local swimming instruction. The site includes a large hot tub, a children’s pool, a sun deck and picnic facilities. Visit Austurland also states that accessibility for people with reduced mobility is good. The pool remains open across both summer and winter seasons, but opening hours vary through the year, so visitors should confirm current hours before making the drive. The former standalone Selá river attraction is best consolidated here for general visitors: the river is a major part of Selárlaug’s setting, while dedicated salmon fishing on Selá is a separate specialist activity rather than a general sightseeing stop. The river image from that record is preserved here in the gallery as landscape context.