Taminaschlucht

About 45 minutes from our home are the natural springs of Bad Ragaz and the accompanying mountain stream that runs through the Taminaschlucht (Tamina Gorge). The origin of the spring which run through the gorge are a bit of a mystery. Scientist presume that water trickles away in the area and soaks approximately 1,000 meters (3,200 feet) down into the ground. The water warms which rises again to the surface through crevasses in the gorge after approximately 10 years. Like many such natural sites in Switzerland, Tamina Gorge can trace it's history as a point of interest back several hundred years. And similar to St Beatus Cave the gorge near Bad Ragaz primarily used as a monetary and place of healing by a small group of monks starting in the 13th century.

Nowadays, there is a small museum and restaurant at the mouth of the gorge where you can collect your wits if you chose to arrive via the local bus like we did. The road between Bad Ragaz and Tamina Gorge is perched along and above the Tamina. On this day, the bus was standing room only, otherwise I would have gotten a shot from inside along the drive. But if you want a sense of what it felt like, the bus is about 10" narrower than the road and this picture with it's lack of side railing was taken on the walk back on the same road we drove up.

Having caught our breath and purchased tickets we made our way into the gorge. We had seen pictures of the gorge in other blogs and it had beautiful, clear blue water. No idea what was going on, but the day we visited it was as muddy brown as could be.

About two thirds of the way down the path diverts into a tunnel where the temperature changes drastically thanks to the constant temperature of the springs. At ground level, the outlet temperature is 36.5C (97.7F) and increases 2.5-3C (4.5-5.5F) every 100 meters (320 ft). The water is also soft, and (according to the info board, I did not verify personally) has a neutral taste and is free from bacteria.

At the end of the tunnel there are two additional paths. One takes you back towards the Tamina where you can watch and listen to the water carve it's way through the gorge.

While the other goes further into the mountains where you can see one of the springs filling a cavern with heated water.

After learning a little history it was time to make our way back to Bad Ragaz. By foot this time!

For reference this is on the same road we took up on the bus

Bad Ragaz is also know for it's statuary throughout the city and the girls just had to stop for a few photos.