Why Some Hot Springs In Wyoming Aren’t Safe For Soaking

There are questions you will likely never sit back and ponder, but then, when you were to find out this particular information, you would say, "Oh, no kiddin'."

Here is some of that information. Get ready for the 'Oh, no kiddin'" part. 

We all know that Wyoming, notably Yellowstone National Park, is renowned for its over 500 active geysers, including Old Faithful. These geysers are a part of the park's hydrothermal system.

READ MORE: The Lost Hats of Yellowstone National Park

These facts are no surprise to most of us. 

The hydrothermal system is the result of the supervolcano below the park, which heats the groundwater and brings it to the surface, creating the hydrothermal features. The geysers, hot springs, and mud pots are all a part of it.

READ MORE: New Development Inside Yellowstone National Park

Here's one of the parts that interests me. 

The water temperatures in all of these hydrothermal features are not the same, which is why you cannot enter most of the hot springs that are in Yellowstone. According to the USGS, water temperatures vary for several reasons, including air pressure, elevation, and the levels of gas & salt in the water.

At sea level, where air pressure is one atmosphere, pure water (with no salts or gas) boils at 100 °C (212 °F). In Yellowstone’s geyser basins, where the elevation is higher (about 7300 ft or about 2200 m on average) and air pressure is lower, water boils at about 93 °C (200 °F). Daily and seasonal changes in air pressure can also cause fluctuations in boiling temperature, but these typically vary by less than one degree.

If you've ever wondered why it's ok to soak in one hot spring but not another, there's your reason. Not all hot springs are created equally.