CROUEN HOT SPRING

In the Xârâcùù language, they are called xwâkwé nè, "the sources of fire". For centuries, Kanak warriors dipped their weapons there before going to war. A legend transmitted by the Melanesian oral tradition explains the origins of this place. A long time ago, the valley of La Crouen was sacred. Only a family guarding the site lived there, along with a god named Wankwéné, who punished the unwary who committed the sacrilege of coming here. One night, the god stirred in his sleep and shook the mountain. The river, which was flowing along the western slope, drifted towards the eastern slope. The tribes then wanted to appropriate the source. A young man from the west went in search of it and came across a young girl from the east who had gone astray. They fell in love with each other and fled into the forest. Coming from opposing families, they could not return together and ended up in the valley of the Crouen, provoking the wrath of Wankwene. In anger, the god urinated on them, turning them into turtles and dogfish. The legend says that at the place where the urine ricocheted, two hot springs sprang up... But don't let that put you off, because the spot is very nice. The sulphurous and alkaline springs flow 250 m³ per day at a temperature between 40 and 44 °C. They are effective against asthma, bronchial affections and rheumatism, but don't be too sensitive to the smell of sulfur.