Hot springs around the world

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

[edit] Hot springs in the Americas

Hot spring in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Hot spring in Lassen Volcanic National Park

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

USA geothermal springs.
USA geothermal springs.


Bridgeport, CA
Bridgeport, CA

[edit] US hot springs

Other hot or warm springs are located in:

  1. Alaska
  2. Arizona
  3. California
  4. Colorado
  5. Georgia
  6. Idaho
  7. Illinois
  8. Montana
  9. New Mexico
  10. North Carolina
  11. Oregon
  12. South Dakota
  13. Utah
  14. Virginia
  15. Washington
  16. Wyoming

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:

[edit] Chile

There are more than 275 hot springs registered in Chile.

[edit] North Zone, Chile - Atacama Desert

[edit] Central Zone, Chile - near Santiago

[edit] South Zone, Chile - Green and Lakes

[edit] Costa Rica

[edit] Greenland

There are numerous hot springs in Greenland:

[edit] Peru

Hot springs in the region of Ayacucho
Hot springs in the region of Ayacucho

[edit] Hot springs in Antarctica

[edit] Hot springs in Asia

[edit] China

[edit] India

  • 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] Indonesia

There are 2 hot springs on Pulau Ambon, Maluku. Also some beautiful hot springs in the volcanic areas of eastern java

[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)

[edit] Korea

[edit] Kyrgyzstan

[edit] Malaysia

Various hot springs, all nonvolcanic. They include -

  • Kedah
    • Air hangat, Langkawi
  • Johor
    • Grisek, 10 km from Parit Jawa, Muar district
    • Labis
  • Malacca
    • Gadak, on road No 61 near Alor Gajah
  • Negeri Sembilan
    • Pedas hot springs, south of Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
  • Pahang
    • Bentong
    • Gunung Tapis, Sungai Lembing
  • Perak
    • Sg Klah, developed commercially
    • Kampung Ulu Slim
    • near Simpang Pulai, south of Ipoh
    • Tambun hot springs
    • Mangong, Kuala Kangsar
    • Ayer Panas, Grik
    • Pengkalan Hulu
  • Selangor
    • Selayang, 15 km north of Kuala Lumpur
    • Kalumpang, south of Tanjung Malim, north of Kerling
    • Ulu Tamu, near Tanjung Malim
    • Kerling, near Batang Kali
  • Terengganu
    • LA hot spring, Besut
  • Sabah
    • Poring hot springs, Kinabalu National Park

[edit] Singapore

[edit] Taiwan

See Taiwanese hot springs.

[edit] Hot springs in Africa

[edit] Egypt

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

[edit] Uganda

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

[edit] Hot springs in Australia

Map of groundwater temperatures in Great Artesian Basin, Australia.

[edit] Hot springs in Europe

Deildartunguhver, Iceland: the highest flow hot spring in Europe
Deildartunguhver, Iceland: the highest flow hot spring in Europe

[edit] Bulgaria

[edit] Germany

  • Aachen, 74 degrees C, 165 degrees F
  • Wiesbaden, 66 degrees C, 151 degrees F

[edit] Greece

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

[edit] Hungary

  • Lake Hévíz the largest thermal lake in the world close to the city Hévíz, water temperatures range between 23-25 °C in Winter and 33-36 °C in Summer.

[edit] Iceland

[edit] Norway

[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
  2. California
  3. Idaho, Montana & Wyoming
  4. Texas
  5. Washington

[edit] Hot springs parks outside the United States

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


[edit] See also

[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.

[edit] External links