Sibley Park in West North contains one of the largest areas of natural
hot springs in the world. This is due to its location over the the Farr/Sclare
Fissure. This fissue in the earths crust takes water seeping through the earth,
heats it to well over 165 degrees and send it back up to the surface to numerous
pools and springs. Only the great hot springs of the Yellowstone geyser area
contains more. But what Sibley park lacks in numbers, it makes up for in size.
At present there are seven hot springs,
DeScy Hot Falls, and the Johnson Sauna in
Sibley Park spread out over 17.5 acres. Such a mass of hot springs releases
a great deal of heat and moisture into the air. This had brought about one
of the most unique changes in nature. Sibley Park has changed into a tropical
wonderland. Ecologist call this a subtropical microclimate.
This microclimate extends all the way up the Minnesota River valley through
just about all of Mankato.
Donson's Kettle The largest hot spring in Sibley Park
