Karista Spring Springwatercolor

 The most ferruginous or iron rich spring of the springs in Saratoga Springs, is the Karista Spring in the Spa State Park. Not only is it the most ferruginous in the park, but also the most iron rich water IN THE WORLD. Karista gets it's name, aptly so, from the Iroquois term for iron. In 1915, when the state took over the property, it was simply named Flat Well #2, by the company that owned the property. 

photo of Flat Well #2 from Spa State Park archive

 In 1925, a fountain was made, and a pavilion was built over it. It has recently been renovated and I read more renovations are to come! It sits along the west side of the Geyser Creek in the park, in what is now a picnic area. This a sweet place to go for lunch, and this spring is an added treat, make sure it's a part of your visit!

  In the 1930's the state searched the property for the best mud to use for mud baths at the bath houses. They found the area around Karista to be the perfect mud, for the low laying valley had held an abundance of decomposed leaf matter that melded with the iron rich dirt, and seemed to work wonders for the skin. I dug around for this dirt, and found some nice red clay-like action! 

To get a good idea of it's iron rich properties, here's a photo of the Karista dirt, next to potting soil in my garden... 

The mineral deposit has a few shades of red, from orange to maroon, and worked great in my watercolor. 

The fountain seems to dry heave, then, blasts and gurgles, then dry heaves again, repeatedly. Though it's random, it's blasts of the closest thing to earth's blood, will fill the jug quite quickly. 

And finally, after being Boy Scout prepared and remembering to wear deet free bug spray, I fought armies of young and hungry mosquitos to render the latest in the series.....

Karista Spring