Hot and cold therapies have become one of the biggest wellness trends in recent years, and luckily, you don’t necessarily have to book a pricey spa day to take a world-renowned cold plunge.
According to a new analysis by Icelandic outdoor apparel company Icewear, one natural destination that sits along Ontario’s shoreline is among the best places in the world for a refreshing cold plunge.
The company analyzed over 54,000 Google reviews across more than 60 hot and cold therapy destinations worldwide, searching for positive keywords like “authentic,” “relaxing,” “transformative,” and “invigorating,” as part of its research.
“Experts suggest that hot therapy like saunas and hot springs can improve aches and pains along with improving cardiovascular health, while cold therapy, including cold plunges, can improve general wellbeing, boost the immune system and contribute towards better mental health,” Icewear notes.
The worldwide rankings include everything from geothermal spas to glacier-fed lakes, as well as several Canadian destinations, which earned spots among the world’s best natural cold therapy locations, including one with a shoreline in Ontario.
Although it was technically listed as a U.S. destination in the rankings, Lake Superior has shores along Ontario, making it a convenient option for those looking to partake in the cold plunge trend without leaving the province.
The biggest and deepest of the Great Lakes, it’s become a go-to spot for community cold plunges and open-water swims throughout the year. Water temperatures in Lake Superior typically range from around 0°C during the winter to roughly 11°C at the peak of summer, making it one of the coldest places to take a dip even during the sweltering hot months.
According to Parks Canada, while the water near the shoreline of Lake Superior can occasionally feel warmer, the freshwater lake’s average temperature is just 4°C throughout the year.
Icewear found that 45 per cent of reviews for Lake Superior included positive language associated with its cold therapy experience.
Ontario wasn’t the only Canadian province represented in the worldwide rankings. Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, and Peyto Lake in Alberta were also named some of the world’s top natural cold therapy destinations.
These are the top 10 best hot therapy destinations worldwide, according to the index:
- Hell’s Gate Geothermal Park & Mud Spa — New Zealand
- Thermae Bath Spa — England
- Blue Lagoon — Iceland
- Chena Hot Springs — U.S.
- Széchenyi Baths — Hungary
- Secret Lagoon — Iceland
- Peninsula Hot Springs — Australia
- Hvammsvik Hot Springs — Iceland
- Cascate del Mulino — Italy
- Reykjadalur geothermal river — Iceland
These are the top 10 best cold therapy destinations worldwide, according to the list:
- Lake Bled — Slovenia
- Moraine Lake — Canada and Cairngorm National Park — Scotland (tied)
- Banff National Park — Canada
- Lake Tahoe — U.S.
- Mohonk Mountain House — U.S.
- Fairy Pools — Isle of Skye
- Sand Valley, Nekoosa in Wisconsin — U.S.
- Bude Sea Pool — England
- Lake Wakatipu — New Zealand
Originally published on blogTO
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