Country Canada Incorporated 1991 Postal code V0A 1M0 Population 777 (2011) | Regional district East Kootenay Time zone MST (UTC−7) Elevation 808 m Local time Wednesday 10:22 PM | |
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Weather 6°C, Wind SE at 11 km/h, 63% Humidity | ||
Radium Hot Springs, informally and commonly called Radium, is a village of approximately 800 people situated in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia. The village is named for the hot springs located in the nearby Kootenay National Park. From Banff, Alberta, it is accessible via Highway 93.
Contents
Map of Radium Hot Springs, BC, Canada
The hot springs were named after the radioactive element when an analysis of the water showed that it contained small traces of radon which is a decay product of radium. The radiation dosage from bathing in the pools is inconsequential; approximately 0.13 millirem from the water for a half-hour bathing. The air concentration of radon is about 23 picocuries per litre which is higher than the level (4 picocuries per litre) at which mitigation is necessary at residences; but is also inconsequential (about 0.7 millirem for a half-hour bathing) from a dose impact perspective.
Geography
Radium is located 16 km north of the tourist town of Invermere, and 105 km south of Golden, British Columbia. It is located at the junction of Highway 95 and Highway 93, in the Columbia River valley, between the river and Kootenay National Park.
Wildlife in the area includes mule deer, grizzly bears, black bears, mountain goats and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.
Amenities
Several golf courses are located nearby, along with 675 hotel and motel rooms.
Hot springs
The hot springs complex itself contains two large pools, one with hot water for soaking (usually around the temperature of 39 °C (102 °F), the other a two-thirds Olympic swimming pool that is usually around 29 °C (84 °F). There is also a hot-tub-sized pool that has been dubbed the "Plunge Pool", because the water can be hot – right from the source at 44 °C (111 °F) – or cold, right from a creek running beneath the pools.