What makes Colorado hot springs hot?

“Deep in the earth along faults, water is in contact with hot rocks,” explains Dr. Christine Siddoway, a geology professor at Colorado College. “The water gets heated and because it's been heated, it's energized to travel up toward the surface, where it can be enjoyed by humans.”



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Taking a Dip The naturally high temperatures of the spring water make the water unsafe for bathing, so think twice before you dip your toes in. Fortunately, there are other options at the park that make it possible to submerse yourself in the therapeutic waters at a safe temperature.

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We recommend getting out of the water for 5 minutes every 15 minutes or so. This largely depends on the temperature of the pool you're in. You might need to get out more often in a hotter pool and less in a mild pool. Listen to your body.

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They will list the current temperature of the water as well as the maximum amount of minutes to stay in at a time. For the most part, almost all commercial hot springs in North America require swimsuits so always err on the side of caution and keep that suit on. Even if you see someone remove their suit – wait.

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1. Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone. This tallest geyser in the world set the highest temperature ever recorded in the park. It's so far above sea level that the boiling point is 199°F rather than the sea-level 212°, but a hole drilled by scientists to 1,087 feet deep found a temperature of 459°F.

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One of the places most famous for its hot springs is Japan. There are more than 3000 of these springs, called “onsen,” scattered across the country - which is more than anywhere else on earth, according to Lonely Planet.

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Unfortunately, this means not all primitive hot springs are safe to swim in, with many boasting dangerous levels of algae or bacteria. Luckily, these dangerous conditions are rare, and most primitive hot springs undergo natural purifying processes that ensure their clean and safe swimming conditions for visitors.

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