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List of hot springs in the United States facts for kids

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Hot springs in the United States
USA geothermal springs

Get ready to explore the amazing world of hot springs in the United States! These special places are found all over the country, but especially in the Western states like Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Hot springs are pools of water heated naturally by the Earth. This heat comes from deep inside our planet. For thousands of years, people have used these warm waters. Ancient people, like the Paleo-Indians, used hot springs for warmth, healing, and cleaning. Many Indigenous cultures see hot springs as sacred. They used them for special ceremonies, sometimes along with sweat lodges.

Bathing in warm, mineral-rich water is a very old tradition. The Latin phrase sanitas per aquam means "health through water." This idea, called balneotherapy, is about treating sickness and other problems by bathing in natural hot springs.

Some hot springs are natural rock pools you can only reach by walking or riding a horse. Others have been turned into fancy resorts and spas where you can relax and enjoy the warm water.

Alaska's Warm Waters

Kanuti Hot Springs Area of Critical Environmental Concern, Alaska (15050132904)
Kanuti Hot Springs Area of Critical Environmental Concern, Alaska

Alaska has many hot springs, often in wild and beautiful places.

Arizona's Desert Oases

Pumpkin Spring, Grand Canyon (42648560545)
Pumpkin Spring, Grand Canyon

Even in the desert, Arizona has some cool hot springs.

Arkansas's Famous Springs

Gfp-arkansas-hot-springs-steam-from-spring
Arkansas hot springs, steam from spring

The city of Hot Springs in Arkansas is famous for its natural thermal waters.

California's Diverse Springs

Mammoth Hot Creek Pools
Mammoth Hot Creek Pools
Geothermal areas in Lassen area
Geothermal areas in Lassen area
Aquamarine water pool at Bumpass Hell-8882
Aquamarine water pool at Bumpass Hell

California is home to many different types of hot springs, from wild pools to developed spas.

Colorado's Mountain Springs

Main article: List of hot springs in Colorado
The Mother Spring - Pagosa Hot Springs, Colorado
The Mother Spring, Pagosa Hot Springs, Colorado
Pagosa Hot Spring
Pagosa Hot Spring, Colorado

Colorado's mountains hide many beautiful hot springs.

Florida's Warm Mineral Springs

Florida has a unique warm spring.

Georgia's Healing Waters

Georgia also has some warm springs.

Hawaii's Volcanic Pools

Hawaii's volcanic activity creates warm springs right by the ocean.

  • Ahalanui Hot Pond
  • Pohoiki Warm Spring, part of the Isaac Hale Park warm springs system

Idaho's Natural Hot Spots

Hotspring near Garden Valley Idaho
Hot spring near Garden Valley Idaho

Idaho is famous for its many natural hot springs, often found in forests.

  • Boat Box Hot Spring
  • Burgdorf Hot Springs
  • Goldbug Hot Springs
  • Kirkham Hot Springs
  • Lava Hot Springs

Indiana's Historic Springs

West Baden Springs Indiana 1906
West Baden Springs Indiana 1906

Indiana has a historic hot spring location.

  • West Baden Springs

Montana's Big Sky Springs

Montana's wide-open spaces are home to many hot springs.

Nevada's Geothermal Wonders

Hot spring in Gerlach, Nevada
Hot spring in Gerlach, Nevada
Dianas Punchbowl - panoramio
Diana's Punchbowl, Nevada
2014-06-04 12 18 32 View across the Elko Hot Hole
View across the Elko Hot Hole
Fly geyser
Fly geyser

Nevada has many active geothermal areas, including geysers and hot springs.

New Mexico's Desert Springs

Spence hot spring
Spence hot spring
McCauley Hot Springs, Jemez Springs, NM, USA
McCauley Hot Springs, Jemez Springs, NM, USA

New Mexico offers hot springs in its beautiful desert landscapes.

New York's Mineral Springs

Orenda Spring Tufa Deposits - Saratoga Springs, New York 11
Orenda Spring Tufa Deposits, Saratoga Springs, New York

New York has famous mineral springs, known for their unique water.

North Carolina's Mountain Retreat

North Carolina has a town named after its hot springs.

Oregon's Forest Springs

Alvord Hot Springs
Alvord Hot Springs
Bath House on Mansfield property
Bath House on Mansfield property, Breitenbush Hot Springs (thermal mineral springs)

Oregon's hot springs are often found in lush forests.

South Dakota's Hot Springs Town

South Dakota has a town named after its hot springs.

Texas's Remote Springs

Texas has hot springs, some in very remote areas.

Utah's Diverse Hot Spots

5th Water Hotsprings dyeclan.com - panoramio
Fifth Water Hot Springs

Utah has a variety of hot springs, from clear blue pools to muddy ones.

Virginia's Historic Warm Springs

Virginia is home to some historic warm springs.

Washington's Pacific Northwest Springs

The Pacific Northwest state of Washington has several hot springs.

West Virginia's Spa Town

West Virginia has a state park built around its warm springs.

Wyoming's Yellowstone Wonders

Grand Prismatic Spring 2013
Grand Prismatic Spring 2013, Yellowstone National Park
Black Sand Basin (2817356204)
Black Sand Basin
Orange Spring Mound at Mammoth Hot Springs
Orange Spring Mound at Mammoth Hot Springs

Wyoming is home to Yellowstone National Park, which has some of the most famous and colorful hot springs in the world.

See also

  • List of hot springs around the world
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