title. Volcanic Springs
date. March 2015
city. St. Lucia
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Mineral baths and sulfur springs. For me the hidden gem I discovered in St. Lucia was the Diamond Falls Mineral Baths. Located in Soufriere its hot flowing springs are fueled by an active volcano on the island. The springs are fed by a waterfall in a lush botanical garden and into pools chiselled out of natural occurring rock cliffs. The minerals in the water are Kaolinite and Quartz as well as smaller amounts of Gypsum, Alunite, Pyrite and Geotite. These minerals when combined in the hot lava springs creates a therapeutic experience that relieves muscle tension and joint aches.
The 2000 acre estate containing the springs was granted by King Louis XIV of France to the Devaux family in 1713 for outstanding services to ‘Crow and Country’. This beautiful estate has grown since then. At one point is contained a working plantation that once produced limes, copra, and cocoa. This plantation brought jobs to the locals in the area, aiding in the financial and literal growth of the town, Soufriere, at the base of the mountain. The spring baths were then built in 1784 so that the therapeutic waters of the area could be shared with the French troops that patrolled in the area. One place I would have loved to have checked out in the area is the sulfur springs. The sulphur springs are bubbly streams of water that are fueled by weak spots in the crust of an enormous collapsed crater. This was caused by an eruption in the volcano there over 40,000 years ago. Also found near the sulphur springs are amazing mud baths. The hot water and mineral rich dirt creates an amazing exfoliating layer of thick mud. Beware though, sulfur has a very distinct smell… rotten eggs. It’s well worth it though. We only spent one night at Soufriere so we didn’t have time to go to the mud baths as well as the mineral springs but it’s definitely on my to do list if I go back.
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This amazing estate has led to the prosperity of the whole island, offering tourism and jobs for the locals in the area. This adheres with the Catholic Social Teaching, Community and the Common Good. This teaching emphasizes the importance of social institutions, like the Devaux estate, in contributing to the common good of society. The grooming of this land created jobs back in its establishment, as men and women worked on plantations, harvesting the lands goods. It has then continued to expand past this point as the amazing unique features were harnessed and exploited to travellers. This increased tourism in the area allowing for further expansion of the island and town of Soufriere. The organization of the society established used the building economy and overall stability to increase the dignity of the locals, and the growth of the community.
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One place I would have loved to have checked out in the area is the sulfur springs. These are bubbly streams of water fueled by weak spots in the crust of an enormous collapsed crater. This was caused by an eruption in the volcano there over 40,000 years ago. Also found near the sulphur springs are amazing mud baths. The hot water and mineral rich dirt creates an amazing exfoliating layer of thick mud. Beware though, sulfur has a very distinct smell like rotten eggs. It’s well worth it though. We only spent one night at Soufriere so we didn’t have time to go to the mud baths as well as the mineral springs but it’s definitely on my to do list if I go back.
This destination is not just beautiful and unique it is also part of a larger social balance which makes it all the more satisfying to go visit.
