Moose Jaw is known throughout Canada for its therapeutic geothermal mineral water pool at the Temple Gardens Hotel and Spa. The indoor/outdoor pool is part of the hotel, however, it is open to the public year round. For nearly ten years now, I have lived in Moose Jaw. Every time I go to the spa, I wonder exactly where the water comes from. That question lead to the creation of this cache.
The geothermal water was accidentally discovered in 1910 when a deep well was bored in an effort to locate natural gas. The water comes from an ancient sea bed that is 350 meters below the earth's surface. The porous formations into which the well is drilled are ancient sea beds. Geothermal heat conducted from the much deeper molten mass of the earth's core continually warms the vast and virtually inexhaustible reservoirs of mineral waters contained in these formations. The geothermal water travels under its own pressure through an insulated pipe from the wellhead to the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa.
The waters are similar in composition to those found at the famous mineral pools in Bath, England. There are 10,000 ppm in dissolved solids including Epsom Salts (magnesium sulfate) and Glauber's Salts along with many minerals and elements. the advanced treatment facility at the spa removes iron and chorinates the mineral water for use in the pool.
The cache co-ordinates will take you to the front doors of the building that houses the geothermal pool. Inside the doors to the left along the outside wall, you will find elevators. The fourth floor pool is open to the public. There is a fee to use it, however, there is no fee to look at it.
In order to log this cache you must send the correct answers to the following questions to the cache owner.
According to the sign located within the pool area please answer questions one to five. You may have to go for a swim in order to see it!
1. What form of Glauber's Salts are found in the water?
2. How many trace elements are found in the water?
3. How many additional constituents are listed on the sign?
4. Approximately how far away is the current wellhead located?
5. What temperature is the water?
6. The City of Moose Jaw drilled a new well in 1980 at the co-ordinates posted as "Pumphouse Waypoint" which you will need to visit. At this location, the source of the water will be under your feet. Write down what is written on the sign on this building.
You may try to use the Internet to answer some of these questions, but the answers that you find on-line differ slightly from those you will find on the sign. Logs with incorrect answers will be deleted.