GC22ZXJ Earthcache Pagosa Hot Springs
Type: Earth | Size: Not chosen Not chosen | Difficulty: 1 out of 5 | Terrain: 1 out of 5
By: ZerØ @ | Hide Date: 12/19/2009 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N37° 15.989 W107° 00.650 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 0
Recommended for kids  Takes less than an hour  Scenic view  Available at all times  Available during winter  Wheelchair accessible  Parking available  Telephone nearby 

Pagosa Springs is a beautiful mountain town with a lot of recreational possibilities. Ski all day and soak it up in the hot springs, nothing could be better. Coordinates take you to a geological formation in the middle of town with a great view of the river below and the hot springs themselves.

Hot Springs:.
A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the Earth's crust. There are hot springs all over the earth, on every continent and even under the oceans and seas..
* any geothermal spring.
* a spring with water temperatures above its surroundings.
* a natural spring with water temperature above body
temperature – normally between 36.5 °C (97.7 °F) and 37.5 °C (99.5 °F).
* a natural spring with warm water above body temperature.
* a thermal spring with water warmer than 36.7 °C (98.1 °F).
* a natural spring of water greater than 21.1 °C (70.0 °F) (synonymous with thermal spring).
* a natural discharge of groundwater with elevated temperatures.
* a type of thermal spring in which hot water is brought to the surface. The water temperature of a hot spring is usually 6.5 °C (43.7 °F) or more above mean air temperature. Note that by this definition, "thermal spring" is not synonymous with the term "hot spring".
* a spring whose hot water is brought to the surface (synonymous with a thermal spring). The water temperature of the spring is usually 8.3 °C (46.9 °F) or more above the mean air temperature..
* a spring with water above the core human body temperature – 36.7 °C (98.1 °F)..
* a spring with water above average ambient ground temperature, a definition favored by some.
* a spring with water temperatures above 50 °C (122 °F).
Hot spring in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
The related term "warm spring" is defined as a spring with water temperature less than a hot spring by many sources, although Pentecost et al. (2003) suggest that the phrase "warm spring" is not useful and should be avoided. The US NOAA Geophysical Data Center defines a "warm spring" as a spring with water between 20 °C (68 °F) and 50 °C (122 °F). The water issuing from a hot spring is heated by geothermal heat, i.e., heat from the Earth's interior. In general, the temperature of rocks within the earth increases with depth. The rate of temperature increase with depth is known as the geothermal gradient. If water percolates deeply enough into the crust, it will be heated as it comes into contact with hot rocks. The water from hot springs in non-volcanic areas is heated in this manner. Steam Crepuscular rays at Mammoth Hot Springs.
In active volcanic zones such as Yellowstone National Park, water may be heated by coming into contact with magma (molten rock). The high temperature gradient near magma may cause water to be heated enough that it boils or becomes superheated. If the water becomes so hot that it builds steam pressure and erupts in a jet above the surface of the Earth, it is called a geyser. If the water only reaches the surface in the form of steam, it is called a fumarole. If the water is mixed with mud and clay, it is called a mud pot..
Note that hot springs in volcanic areas are often at or near the boiling point. People have been seriously burned and even killed by accidentally or intentionally entering these springs..
Warm springs are sometimes the result of hot and cold springs mixing but may also occur outside of volcanic areas, such as Warm Springs, Georgia (frequented for its therapeutic effects by paraplegic U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who built the Little White House there)..
Flow rates.
Hot springs range in flow rate from the tiniest "seeps" to veritable rivers of hot water. Sometimes there is enough pressure that the water shoots upward in a geyser, or fountain. .
A very low flow rate hot spring fed the closed resort, Fales Hot Ditch, which is north of Bridgeport, California. There is a huge subterranean lake below Tonopah, Arizona, which provides natural hot mineral waters to several hot springs. These hot springs were used by the seven or more hot spring spas that once operated in Tonopah. The ruins of two such spas are still visible in Tonopah. [edit] High flow hot springs.
There are many claims in the literature about the flow rates of hot springs. Some of the hot springs with high flow rates and high claimed flow rates. It should be noted that there are many more very high flow nonthermal springs than geothermal springs. For example, there are 33 recognized "magnitude one springs" (having a flow in excess of 2,800 liters/second) in Florida alone. Silver Springs, Florida has a flow of more than 21,000 liters/second. .
Therapeutic uses.
Japanese open air hot spring in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Hammam Essalihine, romain hot spring in Algeria.
Because heated water can hold more dissolved solids, warm and especially hot springs also often have a very high mineral content, containing everything from simple calcium to lithium, and even radium. Because of both the folklore and the claimed medical value some of these springs have, they are often popular tourist destinations, and locations for rehabilitation clinics for those with disabilities..
To log this cache you must:.
1. Have a photo of you/gps/ or both at the site..
2. Tell the exact or estimate the temperature of the water.
3. Tell what minerals created the formation at the site..
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 Logs

14 Logs: Found it 13  Write note 1  

Found it 07/04/2019 By Peanuts or Pretzels
Found the Mother Spring of Pagosa Spring. Beautiful town and lovely springs. Thanks for the EarthCache!!

Found it 06/20/2019 By AF BEE
Traveling from Gunnison to Gallup taking the scenic route, targeting new counties, Delorme pages, highly favored and birthday caches...this was the first, thanks for sharing this interesting local geology!

Found it 06/15/2019 By nvgoldfish
Out caching with (piker) as we are traveling west and south thru CO and the 4 corners headed to Flagstaff, AZ. We are trying to find caches in each of the counties we traverse along with challenges and virtual caches. We were quite successful. This was one of the ones we found.

Thank you very much for the cache.

Found it 06/15/2019 By piker
The wife and I (piker) are traveling with our son (NVgoldfish) west and south thru CO and the 4 corners area headed to Flagstaff, AZ. We are trying to find caches in each of the counties we traverse along with challenges and virtual caches. We were quite successful. This was one of the ones we found.

NVgoldfish is sending the answers for both of us and will post a picture.

Found it 06/13/2019 By flanji
Me n the pup on vacation and on a road trip!! We are gathering caches to fulfill challenges and interesting spots!! Answers have been sent!! Thanks for the fun adventure and for the !!!!

Write note 12/19/2018 By dustyriver
Happy Birthday to you = Thank You for bring happy caching adventures to so many for the last 9 years, since 19 Dec 09

Found it 09/05/2018 By HappyHorvalFamily
This is one of my favorite spots in Colorado. I had the pleasure of going to college in Durango, and visiting this area a few times. Thanks for the earthcache!

Found it 08/26/2018 By Milek78
Out with B0NE on our epic western adventure. We started the trip in Denver and ended in LA picking up highpoints, counties, favorites, virtuals and Earthcaches along the way.
Climbed Wheeler Peak in the morning and after that headed over to visit Four Corners Monument. We grabbed few here and there along the way. It was late in the day when we eventually got to Pagosa Springs. Such a nice spot, I was expecting to find the place being much more crowded. There was no one around. Pretty quiet here. Cool spot, too bad the springs are little too hot for the dip. TFTC. B0NE sent the answers for both of us. TFTC

Found it 08/26/2018 By B0NE
I think I'm really starting to like these western states..., gotta get outta Jersey! Another adventure with Milek78, starting in Denver and finishing in L.A. This time we came prepared with climbing gear, I want to get on some rock and give the pine trees a rest!

Our Focus:

• State Highpoints
• High Terrain
• Climbing
• Counties
• High Favs
• Oldies

Glad we stopped here, needed a freshening up after climbing today.

Found it 08/25/2018 By graywacke
My daughter stopped nearby for coffee and I jumped out to find an earth-cache. Great spot. I would like to spend more time in the area, but for now onward to Taos.

Found it 08/09/2018 By stevewonders27

Found it 08/08/2018 By RedRum13
One of my good Friends from Humboldt County in Northern California lives here now. It’s quite beautiful place and I myself used to live in Breckenridge about 20 years ago. I miss it and hope to move back soon. Thanks for showing me the name sake of the town Zer0

Found it 08/03/2018 By Team Peterson
Passed by this all week and took the time to get the cache and enjoy the view. Sending answers and will post picture soon. Have enjoyed our week here.

Team Peterson

Found it 09/03/2017 By dustyriver
A good find with Liquidelle, BriGuy on our Labor day weekend grabbing caches trip. We covered over 20 counties over the three day weekend and even got to dip into Utah. Good traveling as one of the SWAC crew, Best Wishes, DustyRiver (Answers sent by BriGuy - water was much warmer than I had expected - then after camping/sleeping in a tent with my kids, anything warm is good)