Primordial Soup
Once upon a time, back in the 1920s, the sick and frail swam in Paralana Hot Springs. Bubbling at 60 degrees, the waters were deemed therapeutic, with more kapow than Lourdes.
Unfortunately they got that last bit right. The steam is a blend of carbon dioxide, helium and radon. That’s right, radon. This slimy radioactive soup in the northern tip of SA’s Flinders Ranges has as much healing power as a Springfield meltdown.
The heat derives from decaying uranium in the local granite – the last active traces of our volcanic history. Wave a Geiger counter over either seepage pond and the crackle will turn to frenzy: this is the most radioactive spot on the continent – one of three in the world – and not a smart spot for a paddle.
NASA scientists, however, can’t keep their noses out. The boffins visit regularly to study the scum covering both ponds, a mix of stubborn bacteria and a life-form they dub ‘extremophiles’ (possibly the first ever living thing on Mother Earth). With a manned trip to Mars loosely booked for 2020, the whole notion of life and geriatric volcanoes is a hot topic.
[For safety sake, windy days are the wisest for visiting, when the radon gas is dispersed. A four-while drive is preferable to drive the 16kms from Arkaroola. Eco-tours are offered form the village. Leave your togs at home. And see your doctor if the luminescence persists.]