This haiku reminded me of the Cave & Basin National Historic Site, the 1885 birthplace of
Canada’s National Park System. At this
location, in Banff National Park, naturally occurring
warm mineral springs can be found inside the cave and outside in an
emerald-coloured basin.
When I worked there I was completely unaware of the lovely springs and pools above the
cave shown here. I think the same can be said of most of us even now. Although
there are lots of warm and hot springs all along the mountain chains in Alberta
and British Columbia, nobody gives them much thought except as a place to swim.
We should be looking at geothermal power potential more seriously, though
probably not at any spring that’s given birth to a National Park System.
