Introduction

Natural resources or places of tourism in every country not only serve the purpose of refreshment but also a source of income for the host community or the nation at large. I have got a piece to share with you today about some exciting places in my country.

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Erin-ijesha Waterfall

Erin-ijesha waterfall otherwise known as Olumirin waterfall is a place of attraction located in the Erin-ijesha town in Osun State, Nigeria. This waterfall has remained a unique centre of attraction across the state and even nationwide, where people troop in to refresh themselves under the free-falling water or shoot movies/music videos.

Unlike every other waterfall, Erin-ijesha waterfall has 7 steps, each layer characterized by falling water from a reasonable height and at the top (the seventh step) is a village. Olumirin waterfall has attracted many tourists from across the world.

_{Under the falling water (at step 1)}

In the olden days, it used to be a sacred place for soul purification where people performed certain rites to refresh themselves and wash away dents in the form of curses, disease, sickness and so on. Today, the waterfall has no such practice again, it's just a place of tourism.

After spending 3 years in this part of the state, I embarked on a journey to see how things are at the Olumirin waterfall (2 years ago). It was an amazing experience and I planned to visit again.

Beyond the refreshing atmosphere at the Olumirin waterfall, it's also a good place for networking, where you get to meet and relate with people from different parts of the country and even outsiders.

_{Met a Norwegian (at step 1)}

I will rate Olumirin 4/5 and it will be a good place to add to your list. You won't regret it.

Olumo Rock

Olumo Rock is a mountain located in Abeokuta, Ogun State Nigeria and its earliest inhabitants can be traced to the Egba people of the Yoruba tribe. Olumo rock which is now one of the most popular tourist centers in Nigeria was once a spiritual fortress in the 19th century.

The name Olumo was formed from two words, olu which means god and mo which translates to moulded and it was dubbed orisha (deity). Olumo rock is said to be 137m above sea level.

_{Olumo Rock | Wikimedia Commons}

In the 19th century when there was an inter-tribal war in Nigeria, this place served as a place of fortress with several hollows and yards across the rock. With other traditional beliefs ascribed to this place, it shielded its people from the attackers and served as a hideout to plan their attacks.

Olumo Rock is now a tourism centre and it has attracted a lot of people across the world to the see the wonders of the ancient rock and its architecture that saved its people during the war.

_{Tourists at Olumo Rock | Wikimedia Commons}

I have not been to Olumo Rock before but it's definitely on my list when next I have the opportunity to explore the country.

Ikogosi Warm Spring

Ikogosi Warm Spring is another awesome work of nature situated in the township of Ikogosi, Ekiti State Nigeria. Ikogosi warm spring is a unique one where cold and warm spring meet at a point without mixing (that is, each flows on its own without joining the other).

Research shows that the warm and cold water has their origin from a close proximity, with the warm water at the source having a temperature of 70^oC and the other one maintaining its cold nature. At the point they meet, both the warm and cold springs flow out together but without joining, it was said that the temperature of the warm spring is altered at the meeting point and changes to about 37^oC, but each still flows differently.

_{Ikogosi Warm Spring | Wikimedia Commons}

There are a lot of ancient beliefs attached to this site of wonder and one of them narrated that the two springs represent the wives of an ancient hunter. One was temperamental and the other was a calm being. After one of their numerous heated fights one day, the hunter rebuked them and the temperamental wife turned to the warm spring while the calm wife turned to the cold spring. Even as springs, they still don't relate.

The story may not add up, especially for someone who doesn't believe in the ancient powers but the beauty of such springs is worth exploring. I have not been to Ikogosi warm spring before but it has been added to my list when time permits.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have a lot of beautiful natural centres of attractions around us and most times we haven't created time to explore them. Exploring natural attraction centres can serve as therapy after a long working time (days/months/years). It's another beautiful contest to participate in and I would like to invite @ruthjoe, @josepha and @inspiracion to take part in it.