Hot Spring in Yellowstone

Hot Spring

Hot springs work similarly to geysers, but lack the constrictions in their underground plumbing.

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Use Hot Spring's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.

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Overview

Hot springs work similarly to geysers, but lack the constrictions in their underground plumbing that cause pressure to build sufficiently to cause an explosion. Water seeping into the earth is heated by the molten rock below, and then bubbles to the surface through convection, where it cools and then circulates back down again. The colors you see in a hot spring are caused by refracted light, minerals, and microorganisms that thrive in high-temperature, mineral-rich waters.