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GC2176K
7-Minute Spring (of Manitou Springs)Type: Earth | Size: Not chosen 
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| Terrain: By: SPIVEY @ | Hide Date: 11/23/2009 | Status: Available Country: United States | State: Colorado Coordinates: N38° 51.511 W104° 54.696 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0 
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 Waypoints PK2176K - ParkingN 38° 51.497 W 104° 54.689 Please park in one of the parking spaces, located along El Paso Blvd. near these coords: N38 51.497 W 104 54.689
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Please note, all of these answers can be found at the 7-Minute Spring Park.
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