St. Lucia itself has a refuge that will definitely get you even hotter. At the town of Soufriere (French word for sulfur) at the southwestern side of the island, located is the only drive-in volcano in the world. Locally known as the Sulphur Springs, it has now become a major tourist attraction in St. Lucia.
Imagine yourself at the middle of a volcano that has erupted in the late 18th century. This eruption of the Soufriere Volcano of course created intense damage to the immediate area, however, this tragic nature-made calamity pave the way to what is internationally-acclaimed tourist spot now. The Sulphur Springs happen to be at the intersection of two fault lines lying at the center of a volcanic depression named “Qualibou caldera.” Incidentally, this caldera is about thirty to forty thousand years old.
The Boiling Springs
The Sulphur Springs is the main enticement of the park which features an impressive assembly of boiling springs of about 340 Fahrenheit (170 degrees Celsius). Due to its skin-burning temperature, the springs create large amount of steam and it also has high content of sulfur and iron. The location of the springs stands 305 meters above sea level at the collapsed crater of the volcano.
Excursion at the Sulphur Springs comprises of a walk behind a wooden fence even up to the edge of the springs. Before, tourists are allowed to walk up to the actual crater covered with a thin crust, but when an accident of a fall of one of the guides happened, the public is restricted behind the fence.
Therapeutic and Mud Baths at the Sulphur Springs
At the crater of the Soufriere Volcano is a stream running through and established hot springs a little downward. Due to volcanic minerals present at the water, it is believed that Sulphur Springs can provide therapeutic benefits to tourists. However, many cannot stand submerging themselves for too long, because of the extreme heat reaching approximately 45 degrees Celsius and the foul smell coming from the spring probably that of rotten eggs.
World famous health-giving waters in the Sulphur Springs Park consist of the ‘Pool of Love’ and the ‘Black Water Pool’. In the West Coast of St. Lucia, the locals and even tourists experience all natural sulfur baths that has great benefits for the skin. Tourists have nothing to worry about possible eruption of the Soufriere Volcano for it is already considered dormant.
Image credits: slu.travel
