Pumpkin Spring – The Grand Canyon’s Arsenic Pool

Below the rim of the Grand Canyon runs the beautiful Colorado River. Many take trips down its length but among the majestic scenery is something which they do not quite expect – a huge, enormous gourd-like squash. Jutting out from the canyon wall and perched above the river, this highly unusual formation is known as Pumpkin Spring. Photograph by kind permission of Flickr user Roger Steeb Photograph by kind permission of Flickr User Roger SteebIf you raft the river, this hot spring is at mile 212.9 to be exact. Over the millennia the Pumpkin like spring has grown to the extent that is could be said to resemble something from a Roald Dahl novel. Dahl would probably have approved – although the spring might look enticing it isn’t quite as friendly as it appears. Image Credit by kind permission of Flickr User Roger SteebPumpkin Spring is a travertine, which is a form of limestone especially deposited by hot springs. It builds up and forms weird shapes, as you can see here and often has a…