Bassin Bleu (Jacmel)
{{Cleanup translation|French|type=check|listed=nolist|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Bassin Bleu
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| image = Bassin Bleu, Haiti.jpg
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| caption = One of the pools of Bassin Bleu, May 2013
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| location = Haiti
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| coordinates = {{coord|18.2342|N|72.5881|W|source:wikidata_region:HT_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
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| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Bassin Bleu in Haiti.
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Bassin Bleu ({{langx|ht|Basenblé}} ; Blue Basin) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located {{convert|12|km}} northwest of the city of Jacmel, in the Sud-Est department of Haiti. It is a series of three pools along the Petite Rivière de Jacmel.{{cite web | last=Planet | first=Lonely | title=Bassin Bleu in Jacmel, Haiti | website=Lonely Planet | date=2017-06-23 | url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/haiti/jacmel/attractions/bassin-bleu/a/poi-sig/1026256/358066 | access-date=2018-06-04}}{{cite book | last=Clammer | first=P. | title=Haiti | publisher=Bradt Travel Guides | series=Bradt Travel Guide. Haiti | year=2016 | isbn=978-1-84162-923-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e6AyDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA147 | language=fr | access-date=2018-06-04 | page=147}}{{Cite book|title=Lonely Planet Dominican Republic|last=Staff, Lonely Planet Publications.|date=2017|publisher=Lonely Planet Publications|others=Harrell, Ashley., Raub, Kevin.|isbn=9781787011885|oclc=1084426711}}
It has historically popular site for international tourists to visit, but visitation has suffered with fear of local unrest from 2018.{{cite web |last1=Davide Lejustal |first1=Danise |title=Tourism collapse cripples Haiti's coastal oasis, Jacmel |url=https://haitiantimes.com/2024/10/18/tourism-collapse-cripples-haitis-coastal-oasis-jacmel/ |website=The Haitian Times |date=18 October 2024 |access-date=5 June 2025}}
Since 2012, it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.{{cite web |last1=Gentes |first1=Ingo |title=Biodiversity and Poverty Reduction Strategies (PPR) in Latin America and the Caribbean. Recent Approaches and Criteria for Development Cooperation |url=http://www.espaciostransnacionales.org/cuarto-numero/biodiversityandpoverty/ |access-date=5 June 2025}}
Access
To access the site, you need to go in the direction of La Vallée-de-Jacmel, and then Bassin-Bleu. From the village of Bassin-Bleu, the road to the site is up.
Access is not very difficult with a four-wheel drive vehicle. It is a winding road in the mountains allowing access to the site. Getting into the best open part and for diving from several levels requires about a 20-minute hike, then roping down a {{convert|12|ft|m}} rock face. Locals are often present for guidance and steadying. As of 2018, each visitor pays an admission fee of 100HTG at the tourism office, then one can walk there independently or hire a local guide for a fee (about 100HTG per person). Additionally there is a 100HTG parking fee per car.{{Cite web|url=https://visithaiti.com/things-to-do/bassin-bleu/|title=Jump into the cobalt waters of Bassin Bleu · Visit Haiti|date=2018-07-21|website=Visit Haiti|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-20}}
There are rock faces that visitors are able to jump from into the pools. {{cite web |title=Bassin Bleu |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/haiti/southern-haiti/jacmel/attractions/bassin-bleu/a/poi-sig/1026256/358066 |website=Lonely Planet |access-date=5 June 2025}}
Pools
The site consists of four pools:
- Bassin Palmiste
- Bassin Bleu
- Bassin Clair
- Bassin Cheval
The latter is by far the most well known with a cascade of {{convert|10|m|ft|1}} falling into a pool of turquoise water. The mineral-rich waters can turn muddy brown after heavy rainfall.{{Cite book|title=Lonely Planet Dominican Republic|last=Staff, Lonely Planet Publications.|date=2017|publisher=Lonely Planet Publications|others=Harrell, Ashley., Raub, Kevin.|isbn=9781787011885|oclc=1084426711}}
Geology
The surrounding rock is a limestone formation, and the waterfall is a year-round karst spring.{{cite journal |last1=BOULÉGUE |first1=Jacques |last2=BENEDETTI |first2=MARC |last3=BILDGEN |first3=PIERRE |title=Geochemistry of waters associated with current karst bauxite formation, southern peninsula of Haiti |journal=Applied Geochemistry |date=1989 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=37–47 |doi=10.1016/0883-2927(89)90057-7 |bibcode=1989ApGC....4...37B }}