Soda Dam Hot Spring facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Soda Dam Hot Spring |
|
|---|---|
| Soda Dam Jemez Springs Soda Dam |
|
.jpg) |
|
| Location | near the town of Jemez Springs, NM |
| Coordinates | 35°47′40″N 106°41′12″W / 35.79445°N 106.68669°W |
| Elevation | 6,332 feet |
| Type | volcanic |
| Temperature | 117° F (47° C) |
.jpeg)
Imagine a natural bridge made by hot water! The Soda Dam Hot Spring, also called the Jemez Springs Soda Dam or just Soda Dam, is a cool place where fifteen hot springs have built a special bridge over the Jemez River. This amazing bridge is made from minerals that the hot spring water leaves behind.
Contents
How Was the Soda Dam Formed?
The Soda Dam was created over about 7,000 years. Hot spring water carries minerals like calcium carbonate. As this water comes out of the ground, these minerals build up slowly. Over thousands of years, they formed a dome-like bridge right across the river!
What is the Soda Dam Made Of?
The main material that built the Soda Dam is called travertine. This is a type of limestone that forms when minerals from hot springs settle out of the water. You can see the layers of these minerals in the rock.
How Big is This Natural Bridge?
This natural bridge is quite large! It stretches over 300 feet long. It stands about 50 feet high and is 50 feet wide at its base. The river flows right through the arch of the dam, and there's even a small waterfall there.
Where Does the Hot Water Come From?
The water for these hot springs gets heated deep underground. It's warmed by hot magma (melted rock) from a large, ancient volcano called the Valles Caldera. The water then travels up through cracks in the earth's rocks, following a special path called the Jemez geological fault zone, until it reaches the surface as hot springs.
Studying Life in Rocks
Scientists are very interested in the Soda Dam. The rocks here contain tiny traces of ancient life, like algae. By studying these rocks, scientists hope to learn how to find signs of old life on other planets, like Mars!
A Look Back in Time: History of the Soda Dam
The Soda Dam area has been important for a very long time. Long before settlers arrived, local Native American people used these springs.
Ancient Uses of the Area
Archaeologists have found many old items and signs of human activity near the Soda Dam. For example, at a place called Jemez Cave, they found proof that people were using this area as far back as 2,500 B.C. That's over 4,500 years ago!
How a Road Changed the Springs
In the 1960s, a new road, New Mexico state highway #4, was built right through the area. To build the road, workers had to blast some of the rock. This changed how the spring water flowed. Now, much of the water goes into ditches along the sides of the road. Some of the springs even stopped flowing completely after the road was built.
Water Temperature
The water from the Soda Dam hot springs is quite warm. The hottest water in the spring system reaches about 117 degrees Fahrenheit (47 degrees Celsius). That's warmer than a typical swimming pool!
Where to Find the Soda Dam
The Soda Dam Hot Spring is located near the town of Jemez Springs in New Mexico. You can find it using its geographic coordinates: 35.79445 degrees North and 106.68669 degrees West.
