Crystal Harrison, Staff Reporter

A picture of the crystal clear water that is naturally purified by the limestones.

The clear, clean water inside the Two Sisters Caves attraction in the Hellshire community, Portmore, St Catherine, helps to create a beautiful scene and is the perfect hideaway from the hustle and bustle of Kingston.

The attraction is being managed by the Urban Development Corpo-ration (UDC) and is open to the public on Wednesdays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on weekends from 10 a.m to 6 a.m.

"Two Sisters Caves is about one of 39 caves in Hellshire.Tourists and locals are welcome here at a minimal cost of $200 for adults, and $100 for kids," Misha Samuels, a tour guide told THE STAR during a visit there yesterday.

She went on to explain that the cave isn't open on Mondays and Tuesdays and that from time-to-time there are a lot of visits from schools.

"At least once per year we have what is called Enviro-Fairs," Samuels also pointed out.

THE STAR was further informed that the 200,000-year-old attraction got its name from two slave sisters who escaped from a nearby plant-ation seeking refuge from their slave masters.

It is believed that the sisters lost their lives at the cave because they decided that they would not return to the plantation and so they leapt to their deaths in the cave waters.

Initially, there was said to have been one cave, however, due to the impact of the 1692 Port Royal earthquake, the roof of the cave collapsed resulting in two smaller caves.

The name 'Hellshire' interestingly came about due to the lack of rainfall and other dessert-like similarities such as the cactus, thus the name 'hell' which signifies heat.

It is said that the attraction was used as a source for water by the Arawaks. The limestone rocks are said to be a natural purifier for the water, which accounts for its crystal clear appearance.

A 200-step wooden staircase now takes you approximately 60

feet below sea level and closer to shimmering limestone that depicts Middle Age carvings.

These carvings were done by the Arawaks and it is said that while some of them are visible to the normal eye, only persons with a special 'spirit' will be able to see all of them.

Hanging roots that are believed to have a longer lifespan than humans, birds, crabs, crawfish and bats help to create the unique atmosphere at the cave.

"Di caves are not di only attraction enuh, a little after you reach the cave dem is a place dem call 'Lovers Lane', at nights if you come up here you will see couples holding hands and taking walks," one Hellshire resident said.

He further said; "These two caves are not the only caves over Hellshire, but this one is most popular one and nice place if you just want to kick back and relax and learn something."

Left: The wooden staircase which leads to the cave. Right: The sign at the entrance of the caves giving strict rules.