What is the smell at hot springs?

The minerals that make hot springs soaks so good for your health—sulfur in particular—can also generate an egg-like scent. The minerals are dissolved by the warm water as it comes to the surface from deep underground, so the amount of sulfur in the soil makes a difference.



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Within the Park, there are 3 places where you can touch the thermal water. Even though the water comes out of the ground at 147 degrees F, it is cool enough to touch by the time it reaches the pools.

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Hot springs are heated by geothermal heat—heat from the Earth's interior. In volcanic areas, water may come into contact with very hot rock heated by magma. Hot springs in active volcanic zones may produce superheated water, so hot that immersion can result in injury or death.

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It's best not to eat before bathing in the onsen, but you need to drink a lot of water before and after your onsen bath. Keep your bath to a minimum. Staying too long may cause dehydration. While an onsen is relaxing and beneficial to your health, it's generally not a good idea to enter more than three times a day.

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While clothing may be optional at your desired hot spring, it's always smart to have one on hand! You never know who could be there when you arrive, and it might feel weird or uncomfortable to be nude if you see a family with small children soaking in the pool you want to use.

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