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The Baths on Virgin
Gorda are such a
spectacular natural
feature that they
warrant their own
section.
The Baths are located at
the southern end of
Virgin Gorda in the
Caribbean and they
are on their own a good
enough reason to visit
the island. The Baths
are a collection of
giant boulders which
form spectacular pools
and grottos which flood
with sea water at high
tide.
The hundreds of
huge boulders and rock
formations are worn
smooth by rain and sea
water and form a maze
that leads to
Devil's
Bay beach. The Baths are
a popular anchorage for
visiting yachts and also
a memorable day trip
where you can snorkel in
the clear blue water
around the boulders or
just chill out on the
beautiful beaches. |
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The name
"baths"
comes
from the
warm
sheltered
pools of
water in
and
around
the
rocks
which
flood at
high
tide.
Large
caves
and a
huge
tunnel
through
one of
the
boulders
is a
result
of
erosion.
These
features
can be
explored
by
visitors
clambering
inside
and
underneath
the
massive
granite
boulders. |
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The
oldest
rocks
were
thrown
together
as a
result
of
volcanic
eruptions.
Newly
formed
volcanic
larva on
the
seabed
over 70
million
years
ago
eventually
turned
to
granite
and
around
20
million
years
ago a
fault
occurred
on the
seabed
and the
rocks
which we
see
today
were
lifted
up. The
boulders
would
have
been
much
larger
and worn
down and
rounded
by
millions
of years
of
erosion
from
rain,
wind and
the sea. |
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The
photo
above
shows
the fine
view
from the
Restaurant
at the
Top of
the
Baths
(Tortola
is on
the
left,
Beef
Island
in the
Centre
and
Scrub
Island
to the
Right
with
Great
Camanoe
behind). |
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The area
covered
by
boulders
is
around
half a
mile
long and
covers
the
baths
itself
and
neighbouring
Devil's
Bay to
the
south
and
Spring
Bay and
Big
Trunk
Bay to
the
north.
We have
used one
of our
aerial
photos
to
overlay
with
text to
show an
aerial
photo
map of
the
baths.
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View
from the
Top of
the
Baths |
Restaurant |
Getting
there:
From
Tortola
Ferry
Dock
there
are
regular
boats to
the
Virgin
Gorda
boat
dock (30
minutes)
where
you can
pick up
a taxi
to The
Baths
(10
minutes).
Two
ferry
operators
offer
day
trips
for
around
$25 /
$30 per
person.
Entrance
is
around
$3 from
the
National
Parks
Trust
kiosk at
the top
of the
hill.
See
local
ferry
Tortola
to Gorda schedules
here:
Ferry
Timetables |
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Gorda and the
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More photographs
of The Baths |
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