35 Unbelievable Hot Springs National Park Facts For You To Know

The Hot Springs National Park is located in Garland County, Arkansas.It is an American National Park that is known for its famous hot springs. It is the only national park that has non-volcanic hot springs.The Hot Springs National Park is known as the only park in the United States that has such high-quality hot springs. It is believed that the water from these thermal springs has various medicinal, and healing properties. This water is also odorless, tasteless, and colorless, which is a very strong indicator of its quality. The hot springs originate from the Hot Springs Mountain, which belongs to the Ouachita mountains. The hot springs are preserved as a source of uncontaminated hot water for the adjacent city.Location Of Hot Springs National ParkThe Hot Springs National Park is located in Garland County, Central Arkansas in the United States of America. It is located near the city of Hot Springs.The Hot Springs National Park lies on the foothills of the Ouachita Mountain Range. The water present in these hot springs comes from the Hot Spring Mountain.Before the concept of national parks in the United States of America, the Hot Springs National Park was referred to as the Hot Springs Reservation and was declared as protected land by the federal government in 1832. Following this, Hot Springs developed into a Spa Town.The city of Hot Springs was known for Major League Baseball spring training, horse racing in Oaklawn park, and for being the hometown of Bill Clinton, the 42nd American president.The Hot Springs National Park was designated as a national park in 1921.The Hot Springs National Park is the smallest and oldest National Park in the United States of America.It is one of the most accessible national parks in the United States of America. It is host to a variety of trails and paths.Importance Of Hot Springs National ParkThe Hot Springs National Park is home to the only non-volcanic water sources that produce the hot springs that the park is known for. Let’s take a look at some more important facts about Hot Springs National Park.Springwater is considered to be of the highest quality and has healing and medicinal properties. The water from these ancient thermal springs has been revered by various Native American tribes for decades.Various Native American tribes have been gathering in the Hot Springs National Park for over 8,000 years to enjoy the healing properties of its water.It is of historical significance, as tribes would lay down their arms to partake in the ritual of bathing in the hot springs.The water from these hot springs is one of the natural resources of the adjacent town of Hot Springs.It is preserved in its unadulterated form and is the biggest source of clean, hot water.Flora And Fauna In Hot Springs National ParkHot Springs National Park is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.It is mainly comprised of deciduous forest.It is classified as a Southern Mixed Forest, consisting of Oak, Pine, and Hickory trees.The northern part of the park is covered in oak and hickory, while the southern part consists of pine trees.There is a total of 90 ha (222.39 ac) of oak and pine forests on the Hot Springs Mountains, and 36 ha (88.95 ac) on Sugarloaf Mountain.These forests are comprised of trees that are between 130-200 years old. These trees include shortleaf pine, white oak, and blackjack oak.Before the European settlement, the Hot Springs National Park was home to red wolves, elk, bison, and cougars.Today, the Hot Springs National Park is home to wild turkey, rabbit, gray fox, Virginia opossum, chipmunk, frog, raccoon, coyote, skunk, weasel, mink, white-tailed deer, and nine-banded armadillo.Unique Features About Hot Springs National ParkThe Hot Springs National Park is the smallest national park in the United States of America.It is also the oldest Park, as declared by the National Park Service. It is 5,550 years old.Hot Springs National Park comprises most of downtown hot springs. This makes it the most accessible National Park, according to the National Park service.Due to its accessibility, the national park is home to 26 hiking trails and paths.Visitors are also allowed to take a hot bath in the springs, at an extra cost.There are 24 bathhouses present in the park.Nine out of these 24 bathhouses are a part of the Bathhouse Row, of the park. The Bathhouse row is classified as a National Historic Landmark District.There are 43 flowing hot springs in the Hot Springs National Park. The water originates from a gap that exists between the West Mountain, and the Hot Springs Mountain. This is the only non-volcanic water source and comes from hot water many feet underground.The main source of this water is rain, which flows along the mountains, and then slowly migrates underground to depths of 7,500 ft (2,286 m). At this depth, the water is superheated and takes a year to reach the earth’s surface.The water from these springs is said to have various medicinal properties for skin disease, blood conditions, nervous system disorders, rheumatism, and so on.It was believed that laying in the hot spring water, followed by the cool water of the hot springs creek could heal a variety of diseases.The spring water is considered potable, which means that it is safe to drink. Hot water from the springs is dispensed from hot water jug fountains across the park.The adjacent city of Hot Springs quickly developed into a Spa Town, due to the popularity of the thermal waters. Patients with ailments visited Hot Springs for weeks while undergoing treatment with the water. As a result, various boarding houses, and hotels were set up in the city.The springs have a flow of half a million gallons (227 l) per day. The water from these springs is supplied to the bathhouses and adjacent cities.The water is rich in minerals and has an abundance of calcium, calcium carbonate, magnesium, and potassium. As the hot water rises from beneath the ground, it dissolves the minerals present in the rocks.The park is open to the public throughout the year and is covered in miles of roads and paths.This park is 40 years older than the Yellowstone national park.

The Hot Springs National Park is located in Garland County, Arkansas.