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A natural hot spring within the national park
photo by Brandonrush)

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park is an American national park that is in central Garland County, Arkansas, adjacent to the city of Hot Springs. The Hot Springs Reservation was preserved for future recreation was initially created by an act  of the United States Congress on April 20,1832 .

In 1916 the National Park Service was formed and in 1921 , Hot Spring Reservation changed its name to Hot Spring National park. It is popularly known for its 47 hot springs that emerge from the hot  spring mountains. For centuries now the hot spring water is popularly believed to possess the medicinal properties. Since 1904 when its reporting began the park has accumulated over 100million recreation visits.

1.Its the oldest protected area in the national park system

The Hot Springs  national park has been protected as a reservation since 1832  to protect the park’s primary resources. This type of reservation was an early version of the National park idea that as the first area in the United state to be set aside for it natural features by the federal government.

In 1916 the National park was formed and in 1921 it was deemed an official national park thus making it the oldest protected area in the national park system  but not the oldest park.

2. The spring are not volcanic

Hot Springs National Park

when it comes to hot springs, most  of the people tend to believe that when you think of hot spring there is always an association of the volcanoes while in it come to the Hot Spring National Park its not the same case. Geologists believe that these spring are as a result of a combination of rock types and fracture that are formed along with the Ouachita Mountains.

The unique high porous folds an faults in the rocks thus help in creating a route for rainwater to travel deep below the earth’s surface , slowly heating up as it goes  and the water hits a fault line and moves back up to the surface. Therefore in the Hot Spring national park the whole process take approximately 4,000 years.

3. There are about 47 flowing hot springs in the Hot Spring National Park

The ecosystem support approximately  47 naturally heated spring.  The Hot Spring National Park is  the only unit in the national park system that is usually mandated tp give away its primary natural resources to the the general public in its actual state.

Its is known for the 47 hot springs that emerge from the Hot Springs mountain which  the flow path of the thermal spring is hidden from the human eye thus making it  challenging to gain the knowledge about the hot springs.

4. It is the smallest national park in the united states

The Hot Spring National Park, established on March 4.1921, is the smallest national park ,covering approximately 5,500 acres and it is the only national park located within the city. It is predicted that it can actually fit inside the country’s largest park site.

5. The water is rich in mineral

The water from the Hot Spring National Park comes out the ground at approximately 143 degrees Fahrenheit at average. The heat helps it dissolve the minerals from the rocks , as the water move from the under surface , hence when it emerges it already contains variety of minerals such as dissolved silica , calcium, calcium carbonate, magnesium and potassium. 

The spring water in the Hot Spring National Park is also considered  to be of the highest quality and it contains healing qualities since research show that about over 8000 years, many native American tribe were gathering in the Hot Spring National Park just to enjoy the the healing properties of it waters.

6. The Spring waters are safe to drink

The spring water is naturally good to drink once  it comes to the surface of the hot spring mountain. Many visitors have the endorsed the excellent quality of the hot spring water by filling their vessel to take home.

There are two bathhouses that operate on the Hot Spring National Park where tourist that fully enjoy and experience the water  and drinking fountains provides access for people yo enjoy the water that has given the park and city its name.

7. Hot Springs National Park contains no federal endangered species

Hot Spring National Park, is home to a diverse range of species . The species live within the boundaries of the park they are known of not being endangered. The National Park service is committed to preserve the natural resources that the animals need to survive, through protection and restoration of their natural habitat.

8.There are hiking trial inside the Hot Spring National Park

Sunset on sunset trail
Photo by Mitch Smith

Inside the Hot Spring National Park , there are about 26 miles hiking trails that include the hot springs and north and west mountain trails, which are considered to be short and interconnected. However, the  Hot Spring and North Mountain trails are popular because they are easy and provide scenic view, while the west mountain trails are less travelled, though they provide with greater opportunity for wildlife sightings. The sunset trail is longer and it ravel through remote wilderness area of the park  which is something challenging for the hikers to choose .

9.The springs are still under study

A hot spring at Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. Photo HAL333 –

The springs in the Hot Spring National Park are still being studied by the National Park Service and the United States Geological Survey . They are still studying and researching on the nature and characteristics of the thermal springs at the park. They are not only studying the features but also the actual source of the water and how it is heated and also monitoring the potential environmental impact on the water’s quality and quantity.

10. Its the most accessible National Park in the United States

Spring Tulips at Hot Springs National Park
Source Public Domain.

Considering that the park is actually found within the city of Hot Spring, which has a population of approximately over 38,00 residents, it make it the most accessible park. According to the National Park Service  ,the Hot Spring National Park had about 2,162,884 recreational visits in 2021 , topping the previous visitation records set it 1970.