Homestead caldera facts for kids

The Homestead Caldera, often called "The Crater", is a natural hot spring in Midway, Utah. It's a warm pool of water inside a big rock dome.

Discovering The Crater's Past

"The Crater" is very old, about 10,000 years! It's one of many natural hot springs in the Midway, Utah area. Long ago, miners and workers found these warm pools. They used them to relax and rest after hard work. In the 20th century, it was a peaceful escape. Today, it's a popular spot for people who love to snorkel and scuba dive. This is because the water is always warm. The Homestead Resort was built in Midway thanks to this amazing natural feature.

How The Crater Formed

The big rock dome over the water is 55 feet (about 17 meters) high. It formed over thousands of years. Water full of minerals flowed out of the ground. These minerals slowly built up the dome, making it look like a natural cathedral.

The water comes from deep underground. It's heated by the Earth's warmth. About 135,000 gallons (over 511,000 liters) of fresh water flow into the crater every day. This keeps the water clean and warm. This constant flow also created the mound of rock called tufa or travertine.

Scientists think that rain and melting snow from the nearby Wasatch Mountains seep into the ground. This water goes down one to two miles (1.6 to 3.2 kilometers) deep. There, it gets heated by the Earth. Then, it rises back to the surface. As it rises, it leaves behind minerals like calcium. This forms travertine, a white, porous rock common in the Midway area.

The Homestead Caldera is the biggest mineral dome around. It's about 55 feet (17 meters) tall and 400 feet (122 meters) wide at its base. The water inside is about 65 feet (20 meters) deep. The bottom has an 8 to 14-foot (2.4 to 4.3 meters) layer of silt. An ongoing project works to find items lost or thrown into the crater over hundreds of years. They have found old firearms and coins!

Water Temperature

The water in the spring comes out of the ground at a warm 90°F (32°C).

Making The Crater Accessible

Today, "The Crater" is a place open all year for scuba divers and swimmers. In the past, people had to get in through a large natural hole at the top of the dome. This meant they had to rappel (climb down using ropes) to reach the water.

In the 1990s, the owners of The Homestead property wanted to make it easier to visit. They blasted a 110-foot (33.5 meters) tunnel through the side of the rock. This tunnel opened on July 12, 1996. Now, visitors can walk right in! The site also has a wooden deck and two special areas for soaking. Dr. Jerry Simons led the tunnel project. He also helped make "The Crater" a famous scuba diving spot for divers from all over the country.

Seen on Screen

"The Crater" has been a filming location for movies and TV shows. It was used in the movie 127 Hours, directed by Danny Boyle. It also appeared in season 16 of the reality show The Bachelor. In that episode, Ben Flajnik and his date Jennifer rappelled down into the water from the top hole.