Yet another masterpiece of conveyor technology and a new record as the world's longest single-cable gondola lift at 6.6 km: Doppelmayr is currently designing the gondola lift to the world's second largest thermal spring, located in Morne Trois Pitons National Park on the Caribbean island of Dominica.
The thermal spring (hence the name "Boiling Lake") is located approximately 10.5 km east of the state capital, Roseau. Currently, visiting the thermal spring requires a seven-hour hike – four hours there and three hours back. With the goal of making Boiling Lake easily accessible to day visitors, ABL Holdings LTD commissioned the Doppelmayr Group to develop a new visitor experience.
Input Projektentwicklungs GmbH, in collaboration with Outdoor Engineers AG, developed an ecologically and economically sustainable concept that aligns with Dominica's tourism strategy: Morne Trois Pitons National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is one of the reasons why Dominica pursues sustainable tourism that enriches the lives of its citizens by creating economic, social, and cultural opportunities while protecting the country's natural resources, nature, and culture. Environmentally friendly transportation to Boiling Lake will be provided by a 6.6-kilometer-long detachable 10-person gondola lift – the longest single-cable gondola lift in the world, built by Doppelmayr using their D-Line cable car generation. Visitors will reach the national park reliably and comfortably in just under 20 minutes.
Image: Doppelmayr
The valley station will feature shopping and dining options, highlighting local specialties of the region. The area around the mountain station will include a restaurant with a panoramic terrace, viewing platforms, and, as a highlight at the highest point, a six-meter-high statue of the national bird, the "Sisserou." A hiking trail leads visitors from the mountain station to Boiling Lake in just a few minutes.
Currently, cable car engineers at Doppelmayr in Wolfurt are developing the cable car technology for the world record-breaking cable car. The opening is planned for early 2024.
Incidentally, the largest thermal spring in the world, with 3.5 hectares of boiling hot water surface, is the Frying Pan Lake (also known as Waimangu Kettle), a lake of volcanic origin in New Zealand.
