Hot Springs Locations Locator Map and Directory

A hot spring is defined as a spring that's created by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater. Although there's no universal standard for how hot a hot spring must be, they tend to fall in the range of 36.5°C to 37.5°C (98°F to 100°F). This map also includes "warm springs," which are slightly colder than hot springs at around 20°C to 50°C (68°C to 122 °F). The water in hot springs is hot because it has percolated deep in the Earth's crust, where rocks are significantly hotter than the surface (due to an effect called the "geothermal gradient").
There are thousands of hot springs across the globe, on every continent and in most countries. The United States is home to over a thousand, many of which are regularly visited by swimmers and bathers. Because heated water has the property of holding more dissolved solids than non-heated water, hot springs are often rich in minerals, including calcium, radium, and lithium. Tourist flock to hot springs for their proclaimed medical value (much of which is simple folklore) and rehabilitative powers. There are also many clothing optional hot springs due to their seclusion.