Soda Springs Geyser facts for kids

Soda Springs (Geyser) is a special place in Soda Springs, Idaho, where you can find thousands of natural bubbly springs. These springs were a very important landmark for pioneers traveling on the Oregon Trail long ago.

How the Springs Formed

The land around Soda Springs was shaped by volcanoes a long time ago. Even today, heat from deep underground warms the water. This warm water mixes with carbon dioxide gas, which is the same gas that makes soda pop fizzy! This is why the springs are called "Soda Springs" – their water is naturally carbonated. The pressure from this gas also helps push the water up to the surface, creating many springs and even a geyser.

A Stop on the Oregon Trail

The famous Oregon Trail passed right through Soda Springs. Back then, pioneers called it the "Oasis of Soda Springs" because it was such a refreshing stop. It was a major landmark between Fort Laramie and Fort Boise. Soda Springs is also one of the oldest settlements in Idaho.

Pioneers traveling the Oregon Trail first found Sulphur Springs in this area. Fur trappers and early settlers discovered Pyramid Springs by noticing piles of rock and clay that had formed from the soda in the water.

A traveler named Johnkirk Townsend wrote in his diary about his visit. He described "White Clay pits" and springs with "strong super carbonated water" that bubbled up like fountains. He said the water tasted "very agreeable and refreshing," like a natural soda. He also noted a warm spring and a spot where gas came out of the ground without water.

The Famous Ninety Percent Spring

One of the springs, known as the Ninety Percent Spring, was famous for its excellent water. A businessman named Fred J. Kiesel heard about this amazing water. He teamed up with W.J. Clark to open a bottling plant in 1887. They called their bottled water "Idanha."

This natural mineral water became very popular. It was sold all over the country and even around the world! The water was so good that it won first place at the Chicago's World Fair in 1893. It won again at the World's Fair in Paris, France, showing how special it was.

The Geyser: A Surprise Discovery

On November 30, 1937, something amazing happened in Soda Springs. Workers were drilling a well to build a hot springs swimming pool. Suddenly, they accidentally hit a pocket of water and gas! This released Soda Springs' famous geyser, which shot water 100 feet into the air! Everyone was very surprised.

Today, the geyser is controlled. It has a cap and a timer that makes it erupt once every hour, right on the hour. The water that shoots out is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius). There is now a park and a visitor center where people can come and watch the geyser.

Soda Springs also has an interesting industrial lava flow. This is from molten rock that was left over from a company's phosphate mining and manufacturing process. It's located about a mile north of the town.