As the name suggests, 11% of the land of Iceland is covered by glacier. Because the country is sitting right on the mid-Atlantic ridge, there are over 200 volcanoes, more than 30 of which are active. Iceland is therefore called a country forged by ice and fire.  Moreover, frequent geothermal phenomenon has made Iceland the country with the most hot springs in the world, among them over 800 are natural hot springs.

Longevity in Iceland is pretty common. In addition to the clean environment, good medical treatments, a diet consisting mainly of seafood, the secret of their longevity lies in Iceland’s unique hot springs.  Known as a means to keeping the body fit and the spirit young, swimming in an open-air geothermal hot spring has become very popular.

According to medical experts, swimming in hot springs regularly not only promotes healing of chronic diseases like arthritis and asthma and has remarkable effect on all kinds of skin diseases, but also alleviates mental stress suffered by many people in modern days.  A research indicates that patients with heart disease and asthma recover better from swimming in open-air geothermal hot springs than in indoor swimming pools where the air is warm and damp. Soaking in hot springs and breathing in cool fresh air proves very beneficial to their recovery. The record shows that the number of heart attacks in Iceland has been brought down by 50% in the past 20 years.

In Iceland, not only is swimming in hot springs good for health, drinking spring water also has health benefits.  When feeling thirsty after swimming, people can get spring water directly from the tap by the pool. Iceland's spring water is cool and sweet, probably the cleanest and most unpolluted in the world.

Source:
http://photo.huanqiu.com/society/gallery/2009-09/570331.html