Ramsay Hot Springs, Natural hot spring in Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, Canada
Ramsay Hot Springs consists of a series of geothermal pools that cascade down through rock formations toward the Pacific Ocean. The temperature gradually decreases across six natural rock basins as the water flows downstream.
The springs bear the Nuu-chah-nulth name Mux̣šiƛa, meaning "steaming from rock", long before any English name. They gave their name to the cove and community of Hot Springs Cove. The springs now lie within Maquinna Marine Provincial Park, which protects the western Clayoquot Sound shoreline.
The Nuu-chah-nulth name Mux̣šiƛa means "steaming from rock", describing the springs' appearance. The springs give their name to Hot Springs Cove, the cove and community beside them, and lie within Maquinna Marine Provincial Park.
Visitors reach the springs by boat or float plane from nearby coastal towns. From the landing point, a wooden boardwalk approximately two kilometers long winds through rainforest to reach the pools.
During high tide, ocean water mixes with the lower pools, creating a rare phenomenon where hot fresh water meets cold salt water. This interplay between tides and geothermal heat makes each visit different depending on the time of day.
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