Rabbitkettle Hot Springs

Rabbitkettle Hot Springs is a naturally occurring <a href="/facts/Hot_spring/YrzFykH1">hot spring</a> located in the <a href="/facts/Northwest_Territories/au0ajf7T">Northwest Territories</a> of <a href="/facts/Canada/cWWFM8oc">Canada</a>. The springs are found in the <a href="/facts/Nahanni_National_Park_Reserve/A7SDIYeg">Nahanni National Park Reserve</a>, along the <a href="/facts/South_Nahanni_River/dBWFHwJC">South Nahanni River</a>. Rabbitkettle Hot Springs are situated on a <a href="/facts/Limestone/8ntvtFnR">limestone</a> plateau and comprise two large <a href="/facts/Travertine/k7yThLFw">travertine mounds</a>. At 20 metres (66 ft) high and 70 m (230 ft) in diameter, the free-standing North Mound is the largest travertine mound in Canada. The South Mound has grown into a nearby hillside and is not as tall. They are the only <a href="/facts/Tufa/Tqaof6fp">tufa</a> mounds in the world known to be located on <a href="/facts/Permafrost/SkFC7LMT">permafrost</a>. The mounds are multi-coloured and tiered.
The name Rabbitkettle comes from the <a href="/facts/Dene/Vl7FESyF">Dene</a> word gahnhthah, meaning "kettle". The translation was adopted by English-speaking locals as "Rabbitkettle", from the peculiar shapes of the basins in the area. The springs were considered a <a href="/facts/Shrine/fxhVLe5y">sacred place</a> to the Dene, who left offerings such as <a href="/facts/Tobacco/bTD4RUPQ">tobacco</a> to ensure good fortune.

Rabbitkettle Hot Springs open-in-new

Rabbitkettle Hot Springs