Hot springs around the world

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There are hot springs on all continents and in many countries around the world. Countries that are renowned for their hot springs include Iceland, New Zealand, Chile and Japan, but there are interesting and unique hot springs in many other places as well.

Contents 1 Hot springs in the Americas 1.1 Native Americans and hot springs 1.2 United States 1.2.1 US hot springs 1.3 Brazil 1.4 Canada 1.5 Chile 1.5.1 North Zone, Chile - Atacama Desert 1.5.2 Central Zone, Chile - near Santiago 1.5.3 South Zone, Chile - Green and Lakes 1.6 Costa Rica 1.7 Greenland 1.8 Peru 2 Hot springs in Antarctica 3 Hot springs in Asia 3.1 China 3.2 India 3.3 Japan 3.4 Korea 3.5 Kyrgyzstan 3.6 Taiwan 4 Hot springs in Africa 4.1 Egypt 4.2 Uganda 5 Hot springs in Australia 6 Hot springs in Europe 6.1 Bulgaria 6.2 Greece 6.3 Iceland 6.4 Norway 6.5 United Kingdom 7 Hot springs in New Zealand 8 Hot springs parks 8.1 United States 8.2 Hot springs parks outside the United States 9 See also 10 References

[edit] Hot springs in the Americas

Throughout western North America (including Alaska) there are thousands of hot springs, many of which were created between 20 and 45 million years ago as a result of violent volcanic activity. They range in size from the tiniest seeps to near geysers; from seeps like Fales Hot Ditch north of Bridgeport, California, to subterranean lakes such as the one below Tonopah, Arizona, which provides natural mineral waters to the seven or more hot spring spas that once operated in Tonopah. The ruins of two such spas are still visible.

[edit] Native Americans and hot springs

See main article on Native Americans and hot springs

Every major hot spring in North America and South America has some record of use by Native Americans, some for over 10,000 years. Native Americans revered hot springs as a sacred healing place.

In Tonopah, Arizona, it is probable that water flowed forth from the ground by itself for a few millennia. This led the local people to name the area Tonopah, meaning "Hot Water Under The Bush". Though there are no Indian ruins in the immediate vicinity of the hot springs, the presence of grain grinding mortar holes, pottery shards, and other artifacts close by to the west are a clear indication that nomadic hunter-gatherers frequented the area for many years. Additionally, hundreds of very high quality arrowheads have been found at or near existing springs in Tonopah, indicating that it was a popular hunting ground. This abundance of artifacts is indicative of the importance of the springs to prehistoric peoples.

Native Americans always used these natural shrines. If opposing tribes, even those at war, arrived at the same spring, all conflict ceased because they believed they were walking on sacred ground.^[1]

[edit] United States

[edit] US hot springs

Other hot or warm springs are located in:

1. Alaska
   • Baranof Warm Springs
2. Arizona
   • Tonopah
3. California
   • Big Bend Hot Springs
   • Calistoga
   • Desert Hot Springs
   • Esalen in Big Sur
   • Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs
   • Grover Hot Springs State Park
   • Harbin Hot Springs in Middletown
   • Palm Springs
   • Warner Springs
4. Colorado
   • Glenwood Springs
   • Ouray
5. Georgia
   • Radium Springs (20 degrees C, 68 degrees F)
   • Warm Springs (90 degrees F)
6. Idaho
   • Lava Hot Springs
   • Stanley Hot Springs
7. Illinois
   • Little Hot Springs of Illinois
8. Montana
   • Hot Springs
9. New Mexico
   • Truth or Consequences
   • Middle Fork Hot Springs, Gila National Forest
   • Jordan Hot Springs, Gila National Forest
   • Turkey Creek Hot Springs, Gila National Forest
10. North Carolina
    • Hot Springs
11. Oregon
    • Cougar Hot Springs
    • Umpqua Hot Springs
    • Breitenbush Hot Springs
12. South Dakota
    • Hot Springs
13. Utah
    • Midway
14. Virginia
    • Warm Springs
    • Hot Springs
15. Wyoming
    • Saratoga
    • Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis

A list of 1661 hot springs in the United States can be found on the Thermal Springs List for the United States.

[edit] Brazil

Brazil claims to be home to the world's largest hot spring resort in the city of Caldas Novas.

[edit] Canada

There are hot springs throughout Canada, particularly in the west. Here are some prominent hot springs located in western Canada:

• Ainsworth: Cody Caves
• Banff National Park, Alberta: Upper Hot Springs, near the Town of Banff
• Jasper National Park, Alberta: Miette Hot Springs, near the Jasper, Alberta
• Revelstoke, British Columbia: Canyon Hot Springs
• Invermere, British Columbia: Fairmont Hot Springs
• Kootenay National Park, British Columbia: Radium Hot Springs
• Purcell Wilderness Conservancy, British Columbia: Dewar Hot Springs
• Gibson Marine Provincial Park: Ahousat Hot Springs
• Harrison Hot Springs, near Vancouver, British Columbia
• Maquinna Provincial Park: Hot Springs Cove
• Village of Nakusp: Coyote Springs, Halcyon Hot Springs, Halfway River, Nakusp Hot Springs, Octopus Creek, Saint Leon, Upper Halfway River and Wilson Lake
• Pemberton: Meagre Creek Hot Springs, Sloquet Creek Hot Springs and Skookumchuck Hot Springs
• The Queen Charlotte Islands: Hot Springs Island
• Skookumchuck: Ram Creek Hot Springs
• Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park: Lussier Hot Springs
• Yukon: Takhini Hot Springs
• Alaska Highway, (Northern British Columbia): Liard River Hot Springs

[edit] Chile

There are more than 275 hot springs registered in Chile.

[edit] North Zone, Chile - Atacama Desert

• Mamiña
• Puritama
• Socos

[edit] Central Zone, Chile - near Santiago

• Jahuel
• Cauquenes
• Corazón
• Chillán

[edit] South Zone, Chile - Green and Lakes

• Malalcahuello
• Huife near Pucón
• Menetúe near Pucón
• SanLuis near Pucón
• Palguín near Pucón
• Geométricas near Pucón
• Coñaripe
• Termas de Liquiñe
• Puyehue
• Puyuhuapi
• Quitralco

[edit] Costa Rica

• Tabacón near Arenal Volcano.
• Orosí Valley near Cartago.
• Rincón de la Vieja Volcano and National Park, in Guanacaste.

[edit] Greenland

There are numerous hot springs in Greenland:

• Uunartoq
• Disko Island has over 2000 hot springs

[edit] Peru

• Machu Picchu pueblo, known locally and incorrectly as Aguas Calientes, near Machu Picchu.

[edit] Hot springs in Antarctica

• Deception Island

[edit] Hot springs in Asia

[edit] China

• Reshui Hot Springs

[edit] India

• Ganeshpuri, Akloli, Vajreshwari
• Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh
• Bendrutheertha, Puttur, Karnataka

• Sikkim has many hot springs known for medicinal and therapeutic values. The most important hot springs are at Phurchachu (Reshi), Yumthang, Borang, Ralang, Taram-chu and Yumey Samdong. All these hot springs have high sulphur content and are located near the river banks. The average temperature of the water in these hot springs is 50°C.

[edit] Japan

Being located in the "Pacific Ring of Fire", Japan is in a volcanic region, and is home to many hot springs. The onsen (a Japanese word for "hot spring") plays a notable role in Japanese culture. Visiting an onsen is a quintessential Japanese experience and is a popular tourist activity.

In March 2003 it was reported that there were 3,102 spa resorts in 2,292 municipalities in the Japan. There were also 15,400 lodging facilities with 6,740 public hot spring baths. About 138 million people a year visit these facilities.^[2]

Japanese open air hot spring in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama

Macaques enjoying an open air hot spring in Nagano

Geyser in Kamisuwa (上諏訪), Nagano Pref.

Bathroom in onsen in Oofuka (大深温泉)

• There is a very large hot spring resort near Noboribetsu, in Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Hokkaidō, Japan.
• Three famous hot springs areas in Japan are:
  • Atami in Kanto
  • Beppu in Kyushu
  • Shirahama in Kansai
• Dōgo Onsen is one of the oldest onsen in Japan
• Noboribetsu is one of the largest onsen complexes in Japan

[edit] Korea

• Hurshimchung Spa (허심청 Heosimcheong), in Busan, South Gyeongsang, South Korea is one of the world's largest

[edit] Kyrgyzstan

• Issyk-kul

[edit] Taiwan

See Taiwanese hot springs.

[edit] Hot springs in Africa

[edit] Egypt

• Oyoun Mossa (Moses Springs)
• Hammam pharaon (Pharoah Bath)

[edit] Uganda

• Ihimba Hot Springs
• Kitagata Hot Springs
• Nyamasizi Hot Springs
• Semuliki Hot Springs
• Buranga hot springs

A scholarly paper with a map of over 20 geothermal areas in Uganda.

[edit] Hot springs in Australia

• Dalhousie Springs in South Australia 38-43 degrees C
• Elizabeth Springs in Queensland

Map of groundwater temperatures in Great Artesian Basin, Australia.

[edit] Hot springs in Europe

[edit] Bulgaria

• Velingrad
• Narechen
• Kyustendil
• Separeva banya
• Sandanski
• in and around Sofia (Bankya)
• Pomorie
• Pavel banya
• Hissarya

[edit] Greece

• Ikaria features a radioactive hot water spring that has been used since the fourth century BCE.

[edit] Iceland

• Blue Lagoon, Grindavík, Iceland, 36 degrees C
• Deildartunguhver 97 degrees C
• Geysir hot springs

[edit] Norway

• Northwest Spitsbergen National Park, Spitsbergen at 80°N, contains two of earth's most northerly hot springs

[edit] United Kingdom

There are many geothermal springs in the UK, but the hot springs found in the town of Bath are the only true hot springs (defined as those hotter than 37 degrees C):

• Cross Bath, Bath, Somerset 42.8 degrees C, 109 degrees F
• Stall Street Fountain, Bath, Somerset 45.4 degrees C, 113.7 degrees F
• Hetling Spring, Bath, Somerset 45.4 degrees C, 113.7 degrees F
• King’s Bath, Bath, Somerset 45.6 degrees C, 114 degrees F
• Hot Bath, Bath, Somerset 47.2 degrees C, 117 degrees F

[edit] Hot springs in New Zealand

There are numerous hot springs in New Zealand, predominantly in the Taupo Volcanic Zone.

[edit] Hot springs parks

It is common to create parks around hot springs.

[edit] United States

Hot Springs National Park, in Hot Springs, Arkansas was the first national park to gain federal protection in the US.^[3] There are at least seven United States national parks that feature hot springs:

1. Arkansas
   • Hot Springs National Park [1]
2. California
   • Death Valley National Park [2]
   • Lassen Volcanic National Park [3]
3. Idaho
   • Yellowstone National Park [4]
4. Montana
   • Yellowstone National Park [5]
5. Texas
   • Big Bend National Park [6] [7]
6. Washington
   • Olympic National Park [8]
7. Wyoming
   • Yellowstone National Park [9]

[edit] Hot springs parks outside the United States

Of course, there are parks in other countries that include hot springs as well, including:

• Shikotsu-Toya National Park in Hokkaidō, Japan
• Yangmingshan National Park in Taiwan
• Banff National Park and Jasper National Park in Canada
• Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique

[edit] See also

• List of spa towns

[edit] References

1. ^ Historical Impacts of Geothermal Resources on the People of North America, John W. Lund, orig. published in Proceedings of the 1995 World Geothermal Congress, Florence, Italy, 1995, revised version published in Geo-Heat Center Bulletin, Vol. 16, No. 4, retrieved Nov. 9, 2006
2. ^ A Japanese newsletter about hot springs, in English
3. ^ Congress established the Hot Springs Reservation in 1832, granting federal protection of the thermal waters and giving Hot Springs the honor of being the first “national park” to be designated for such government protection. Yellowstone National Park was made the first formal US national park in 1872. Hot Springs National Park was formally created on March 4, 1921.