Hot spring

200px|thumb|right|Guelma in Algeria

A hot spring is a spring produced by the emergence of geothermally heated groundwater from the top layer of the Earth's ground.  Hot springs are in many places, especially in mountains.  The water issuing from a hot spring is heated by geothermal energy, i.e., heat from the Earth's mantle.

 Definitions 
There is no universally accepted definition of a hot spring. For example, one can find the phrase hot spring defined as 
 any geothermal spring 
 a spring with water temperatures above its surroundings Miriam-Webster Online dictionary definition of hot springFor example, ambient ground temperature is usually around  in the eastern United States
 a spring with water temperatures above  US NOAA Geophysical Data Center definition
 a natural spring with water temperature above body temperature – normally between  Infoplease definition of hot spring provides a critical discussion of the definition of a hot spring.
 a natural spring of water greater than  (synonymous with thermal spring) Ultralingua Online Dictionary definition of hot springRhymezone definition of hot springLookwayup definition of hot spring
 a natural discharge of groundwater with elevated temperatures 

 Related pages 
 Geothermal energy
 Geyser
 Hydrothermal vent

 References 

Category:Geology