Today I took a break from the beach to explore some of the sights of inland Krabi. I had heard about the “hot waterfall” and “emerald pond”, so I booked a tour that included them.

 
Our first stop was the hot waterfall. As you probably know, Thailand isn’t far from the line of volcanoes that runs down the heart of Indonesia. While there aren’t any active volcanoes in Thailand, there are several hot spots around the country where hot water comes to the surface. The hot waterfall is the result of one of these. Hot water rises from several springs and flows through a forest until it tumbles down a bluff into a stream. Over the course of hundreds of years, the minerals dissolved in the water have been deposited on the rocks in such a way as to form large deep pools of water. The sides of the pools are so steep that they don’t seem natural, but they are.

One of the major minerals found in the water is copper, which gives the stony deposits a dark green color. The forest, deep warm water, it’s all very relaxing. While soaking in the water is considered good for you, be sure you don’t drink it. In addition to copper and fluoride, the water also contains traces of lead.

 
From the hot waterfall, it’s a short drive to the emerald pond. Like the waterfall, the pond is the result of hot springs, Water flows through a fissure, over a large rock shelf and into a large pool. Depending on the temperature and other factors, the pond can be anything from crystal clear to deep green. The water is not as hot as the waterfall, but it’s warm enough to be quite comfortable. The water has a lot of calcium carbonate, which deposits on the rocks and creates a rich place for bacteria, making the surfaces in and around the pool very slippery.

Posted by michael under Just back from...

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