Why are Colorado hot springs hot?

Ancient rain and melted snow, superheated deep within the earth, bubbled up through layers of sandstone emerging in underground caves and hot pools that dot the Colorado River basin. The Ute Indians called these mineral-rich waters “Yampah,” meaning “Big Medicine.”



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“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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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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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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Hot-spring water is usually fairly safe from the standpoint of carrying disease-causing organisms, but some is not (see below under Stay healthy), and the surface water that cools a scalding spring to usable temperatures will be prone to the same bugs and pathogens as any other surface water.

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Milky White This is due to the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in the water, which transforms into insoluble colloidal particles. The colloidal particles make the water appear milky white.

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For those opting for tampons, make sure that the string is not clearly visible and change it as soon as you leave the onsen. Wash yourself well and refrain from using another tampon right away — give yourself enough time to cool down first.

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