7-Minute Spring (of Manitou Springs) EarthCache
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7-Minute Spring (of Manitou Springs)
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At these coordinates, you will find the 7-Minute Spring.
This spring was drilled in 1909 to enhance the park of a former
hotel, which was once at the site. Carbonation caused it to erupt
at 7-minute intervals, thus the name. It was re-drilled in 1993 and
the current surrounding park was developed.
So where does the water come from? Many times I have
wondered, so I did a little research and found out that rainwater
and the snow melt from Pikes Peak and surrounding mountains soak
into rock fractures. As the water penetrates to great depths, it
becomes heated and mineralized. The warm water naturally flows up
the Ute Pass Fault Zone and into cavernous limestone where it
becomes carbonated. The water issues from numerous springs and from
wells drilled into the limestone aquifer. Because the water takes
thousands of years to complete its journey from mountain sources to
the Manitou Springs, it is totally free of industrial and
atmospheric contamination, so feel safe to drink up.
The day I was doing my research for this EarthCache, there was
many locals coming and going, filling up their drinking bottles for
the week. One of the locals went so far as to say that the
7-Minute Spring taste the best of all of the springs of
Manitou Springs. However, she went on to tell me that her brother
still thinks one of the springs on the west side of town is the
best, so maybe you will just have to decide for your self. Please
keep in mind, unlike most other mineralized springs; these springs
have a distinctive flavor because of the minerals the water picks
up as it passes through limestone and dolomite caverns.
The source of these famous waters lays deep underground in a
system of cavernous aquifers. As the ancient water erodes the
surrounding limestone, carbonic acid is created which gives
Manitou’s Springs their special effervescence. This natural
carbonation forces the water back to surface through cracks in the
rocks, where it absorbs high concentrations of sodium bicarbonate
(soda) and other healthy minerals.
Centuries ago, the great tribes of the plains and mountain Native
Americans paid homage to the healing and spiritual powers of the
mineral springs. They believed the medicinal waters were a gift
from the Great Spirit Manitou.
Considering the picturesque location of the springs in a forested
box canyon at the base of Pikes Peak, it is no wonder the Native
Americans considered the location sacred. The eruption of bubbles
in the mineral water was considered the breath of the Great Spirit
and offerings of beads and fetishes were left in gratitude. The
soothing effects of the soda water on sour stomachs and dry skin
attracted not only the Mountain Utes, who wintered here each year,
but the Cheyenne, Arapahoe, and other Plains tribes. All were free
to share in the gifts of the waters without the worry of
conflict.
In the late 1880’s developers created resorts in Manitou Springs
to provide popular water therapies. Cultural and medical traditions
brought prosperity followed by decline and now, ultimate
restoration. The history of Manitou Springs is forever linked with
the springs around which it was founded.
*References:
Manitou Springs Foundation provided much of the above
information.
Cunningham, "Manitou, Saratoga of the West"
Daniels and McConnell, "The Springs of Manitou"
The City of Manitou Springs, "Design Guidelines Handbook"
To receive credit for this Earthcache, you must email me the
answers to these questions (using my profile link) - Please do
not post your answers in your log. Enjoy your visit to this unique
park, and as they say, have fun caching Along the Way!
1) I encourage you to sample the water…now tell me if you prefer
this spring over another local Manitou spring, or if you just
prefer your own water source?
2) Via one of information signs about the water, what is the
Sodium (Na), in ppm?
3) How high did the water gush into the air, when the original
7-Minute Spring was drilled in 1909?
4) The original Manitou Springs Resort, which was built on this
site back in 1872, please name a famous guest that stayed
here?
5) Last item; please post a photo of yourself or team at the
7-Minute Spring with a GPS.
**As a part of GeoCaching — an adventure game for Global
Positioning System (GPS) users to cache and find locations with
actual hidden items — an EarthCache adventure is treasure hunting
for the caches that the Earth has stored. EarthCache sites do not
use stored containers; their treasure is the lessons people learn
about our planet when they visit the site.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Cyrnfr abgr, nyy bs gurfr nafjref pna or sbhaq ng gur 7-Zvahgr Fcevat Cnex.