Ojo Caliente Hot Springs facts for kids
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Ojo Caliente hot springs are special pools of warm water found in Taos County, New Mexico, USA. These springs get their heat from deep inside the Earth. People have visited them for a very long time because of their natural warmth and minerals.
A Look Back in Time
The Ojo Caliente hot springs have a long and interesting history. Long ago, the native Pueblo people used these springs. They believed the warm waters were sacred. An old story tells of a hero named P'oseyemu who visited a special place through these springs.
The original name for this area was Posi or P'oseuinge. This means "village at the place of the green bubbling hot springs."
Later, Spanish explorers came to the area. Soldiers with Coronado enjoyed soaking in the warm water. Spanish settlers also used the springs before the Pueblo Revolt in 1680. In 1793, Governor Fernando de la Concha officially allowed settlers like Luis Duran to live there.
In 1868, a man from Taos named Antonio Joseph opened the hot springs to the public. He created a natural health spa. The first bathhouse was built with thick adobe walls. Its roof had strong, rough-cut wooden beams called vigas. This building was partly fixed up again in the 1980s.
What's in the Water?
The water at Ojo Caliente hot springs has different minerals. These include lithium, arsenic, iron, and sodium. The water temperature can be anywhere from 80 °F (27 °C) to 106 °F (41 °C).
Where to Find It
The hot springs are located near the village of Ojo Caliente. You can find them off of NM-414, across the Rio Ojo Caliente. A famous building nearby is the Ojo Caliente Hot Springs Round Barn. It was built in 1924 and is listed as a historic place. 36°18′37″N 106°2′48″W / 36.31028°N 106.04667°W
Images for kids
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Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Hotel, built in 1916
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Inside Hon. A Joseph's Store, Ojo Caliente, NM, around 1885
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Old Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs buildings
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Ojo Caliente historical building front
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Looking up Caliente Rio at the Hot Hot Springs, photo by Dana B. Chase, 1884–1892
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The Old Ojo Caliente Hot Springs Hotel
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