1,596 US hot springs cluster where Earth's heat rises fastest
Geothermal heat map of US hot springs
This interactive map plots 1,596 hot springs over geothermal heat flow data from the Stanford Thermal Earth Model. The springs sit on ground releasing a median 102 mW/m² — 1.6 times the US average of 65 — and the hottest spot hits 257. Stretched, faulted crust in the West brings hot rock near the surface, while the cool East has only scattered springs fed by unusually deep water. Landsat thermal imagery from orbit shows the biggest geothermal areas glowing against snow.
The crust there has been stretched thin and broken by faults, which leaves hot rock closer to the surface.
- jtwaleson
A couple years back I drove from Vegas to Yosemite. Due to a road closure we had to take a 4 hour detour. We had this colourful van from Escape Campervans, and every night looked at freecampsites.net to find a free place to sleep. Nice adventures.
That night around 8pm we drove to a random pick, called Willy's Hot Springs, very tired and hungry. We had no idea what it was and had never been to a hot springs. After confirming we could stay there, we drove for dinner and a beer at Mammoth. When we got back, we were curious and went along the wooden path to see the hot springs.
It was around midnight, there was no moon and 0 light pollution. It was magical. You sit in the cold night in natural hot water, in the middle of pretty barren country. There's all the stars and the milky way. Then all of a sudden it got pretty bright. The moon rose over the horizon. It was the first and only moonrise I've ever seen.
This was the most magical night in nature I've ever experienced. A friend of mine said "oh, Willy's Hot Springs, I've been there too, it was kind of mid." I think we experience the world in different ways.
- testing22321
Does anyone know how this was made, and if it would be possible to make one for Canada?
I’m a bit of a hot spring nut, having been to well over 100 wilderness ones, including a few that less than 5 people have been to in ~100 years.
I’m always on the hunt for new ways to find unknown or rumoured ones.
- solfox
Just spent my birthday weekend down at Travertine Hot Springs in CA. Beautiful, well maintained, and free. https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/california/traver...
- seplox
I think it's funny that the volcanic fumaroles are listed. On one hand, yes, they're certainly active geothermal sites. On the other hand, the page is tailored to hot springs.
Average temp: 250F above ambient. Status: Open for soaking. Note: Please don't soak.
- pattar
In a similar vein I made a site to check local water quality and swimming conditions in the Bay Area. https://bayswimcheck.com/
The Eastern Sierra Hot Springs are goated. Definitely worth a trip out there just for that.