Whitmore Hot Springs, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Whitmore Hot Springs
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 Whitmore Hot Springs
Location in California
Whitmore Hot Springs
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Mono County |
| Elevation | 7,018 ft (2,139 m) |
Whitmore Hot Springs is a special place in California known for its natural hot springs. It's not a big city or town, but rather a small, spread-out community. You can find it in Mono County, which is in the eastern part of California.
This area used to be called Whitmore Tubs or Whitmore Tub Spring. It sits high up, about 7,018 feet (or 2,139 meters) above sea level. That's higher than many mountains!
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What is Whitmore Hot Springs?
Whitmore Hot Springs is an unincorporated community. This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, the county government, Mono County, takes care of services for the area.
Where is Whitmore Hot Springs located?
This community is found in a unique geological area called the Long Valley. A caldera is a large, bowl-shaped hollow that forms after a volcano erupts and collapses. The Long Valley Caldera is a very old and famous volcanic area.
Whitmore Hot Springs is about 5.5 miles (or 8.9 kilometers) north-northeast of Mount Morrison. Mount Morrison is a tall peak in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Why are there hot springs here?
The hot springs at Whitmore are a natural wonder. They are heated by the Earth's warmth deep underground. Water seeps into the ground, gets heated by hot rocks, and then rises back to the surface. This creates warm pools perfect for relaxing.
The Long Valley Caldera's role
The Long Valley Caldera is still an active volcanic area, though it hasn't had a major eruption in a very long time. The heat from the magma (molten rock) deep below the caldera is what warms the water for the hot springs. This makes the area a fascinating place for geology.
