What conditions produce a hot spring?

Answer 1

At times, fierce, boiling waters within a hot spring (such as Crested Pool) can explode, shooting water into the air, acting much like a geyser. It is believed, however, that in the case of Crested Pool, no constrictions block the flow of water to the surface. The spring's wide mouth and 42-foot depth provide a natural conduit for superheated water to circulate continuously to the surface.

Answer 2

Hot springs are typically formed when geothermally heated water rises to the surface through fractures in the earth's crust. This process usually occurs in areas with active volcanic or tectonic activity, such as along fault lines or near magma chambers. The water becomes heated by the Earth's internal heat source as it circulates deep underground and then rises back to the surface, creating a hot spring.