hot spring

hot spring, natural discharge of groundwater having an elevated temperature. Most hot springs result from the emergence of groundwater that has passed through or near recently formed, hot, igneous rocks. Iceland, Yellowstone Park in the United States, and North Island of New Zealand are noted for their hot springs. In recent years the depletion of fossil fuels has resulted in a renewed interest in utilizing the energy contained in hot springs. This type of geothermal energy is already being utilized in California, Italy, and Iceland. See energy, sources of.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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