Russian Valley Hot Springs
{{short description|Thermal springs in Baja California, Mexico}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox spring
| name = Russian Valley Hot Springs
Valle de Guadalupe Hot Springs
| photo = Viñedos Valle de Guadalupe B.C.jpg
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| photo_caption = Viniculture in the Valle de Guadalupe
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| location = South of Tecate, Baja California
| elevation = 1,500 ft.
| coordinates = {{coord|32.107387|-116.454110|format=dms|type:landmark_region:Mexico|display=inline,title}}
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| hot_spring_type = Geothermal spring
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| temperature = 125°F
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Russian Valley Hot Springs, also known as Valle de Guadalupe Hot Springs{{cite web |title=Valle de Guadalupe Hot Springs |url=https://www.discoverbaja.com/2020/11/02/peninsula-picks-best-baja-hot-springs/ |publisher=Discover Baja |access-date=13 February 2021}} is a group of hot mineral springs near a historic Russian settlement in the Guadalupe Valley of Baja California, Mexico.{{cite book |last1=Gersh-Young |first1=Marjorie |title=Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Southwest |date=2011 |publisher=Aqua Thermal |location=Santa Cruz, CA |isbn=978-1-890880-09-5 |pages=231-232}}
History
The Valle de Guadalupe was originally occupied by the Kumeyaay people, many of whom still live on rancherias there today.{{cite web |last1=Steinberger |first1=Heather |title=Northern Baja's Indian Country |url=https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/northern-baja-s-indian-country-Ii2kA1zW8Uq7Vmk9qiD1RQ |publisher=Indian Country Today |access-date=13 February 2021}}
The hot springs are named for the group of Russians who settled in the Guadalupe Valley. These religious people of the Prygun faith (spirit jumpers), separated from the Eastern Orthodox Church. They referred to themselves as Molokans (milk drinkers), although the local people called them Los Russos (the Russians).{{cite web |title=Pryguny in Baja California, Mexico |url=http://www.molokane.org/places/Mexico/ |publisher=Molokane.org |access-date=13 February 2021}} They abstained from eating pork, the use of tobacco, and alcohol. The Molokans first settled in the area near Los Angeles before moving to the Guadalupe Valley in Mexico for ranching, farming. Although they abstained from wine drinking, they practiced viniculture. The area is known for its wine.{{cite web |last1=Niemann |first1=Greg |title=Baja Fever |url=https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajafever/russians_of_guadalupe.php |publisher=Baja Bound |access-date=13 February 2021}}
Location
The springs are located fifty miles south of Tecate, near the town of Guadalupe in the Ensenada region at 1,500 feet elevation. A waterfall is close to the hot springs. There are ruins located near the hot springs.{{cite web |title=Valle de Guadalupe Hot Springs and Ruins |url=https://www.alltrails.com/trail/mexico/baja-california/valle-de-guadalupe-hot-springs-and-ruins?u=i |publisher=All trails |access-date=13 February 2021}}
Water profile
The hot mineral water emerges from the ground from two main springs at 125°F, bubbling up from the sandy bottoms of the primitive rock pools. Another hot spring emerges from a sandy bank, this pool's temperature can be regulated by moving rocks to let in cold creek water. This, and evaporation cool the water to 108°F to 110°F.{{cite web |title=Hot Springs [Heiße Quellen] auf der Baja California: Russian Valley Hot Spring |url=https://wilde-weite-welt.de/attraktion/hot-springs-baja-california/ |website=Wilde-Weite-Welt |accessdate=20 June 2020}}{{cite journal |last1=Schmieder |first1=Oscar |title=Lower California Studies II: The Lower Guadalupe Valley |journal=University of California, Publications in Geography |date=1928 |volume=2 |issue=4 |pages=409-434}}