The Baths, British Virgin Islands

One of many 'baths' among scattered volcanic boulders

The Baths are a beach area on the island of Virgin Gorda among the British Virgin Islands, and an area of unique geologic formations. They are one of the territory's major tourist destinations.

The Baths are just over a mile south of maintown Spanish Town, at the southern tip of the island between Spring Bay and Devil's Bay.

The area

At The Baths, although volcanism accounts for much of the Virgin Islands, we see granite that eroded into piles of boulders on the beach. Granite forms from the slow cooling of magma at depth no where close to surface volcanoes. The granite only appears at the surface after geologic ages have eroded away all the overburden covering it. Once exposed, erosion continued to isolate the granite into large boulders and round their surfaces. The boulders form natural tidal pools, tunnels, arches, and scenic grottoes that are open to the sea. The largest boulders are about 40 feet long.

Since 1990, the area has been a BVI National Park as are the adjacent bays, and the area is a major tourist attraction, with swimming and snorkelling as the main attractions.

Pictures

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  The Baths
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  Boulders at The Baths
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  Rock formation at The Baths
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  Bay area at The Baths
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  Underwater Cave at The Baths

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about The Baths, British Virgin Islands)

• 18°25’46"N, 64°26’43"W
• about The Baths
• about The Baths
• map of The Baths area
• pictures from The Baths
• about The Baths National Park