Spence Hot Springs
{{short description|Thermal springs}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox spring
| name = Spence Hot Springs
| photo = Spence Hot Springs, 5.2012 (7164694199).jpg
| photo_width =
| photo_caption = Spence Hot Spring, upper and lower pool
| map =
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| name_origin =
| location = Jemez Springs, New Mexico
| elevation = 6,000 ft
| coordinates = {{coord|35.84947|-106.62982|format=dms|type:landmark_region:US-NM|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref =
| hot_spring_type = geothermal
| height =
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| temperature = lower source: 100°F, upper source: 109°F
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Spence Hot Springs are a group of geothermal springs located north of the town of Jemez Springs, New Mexico, in the Valles Caldera National Preserve.{{cite book |last1=Berry |first1=George W. |last2=Grim |first2=Paul J. |last3=Ikelman |first3=Joy A. |title=Thermal Spring List for the United States |date=1980 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |location=Boulder, Colorardo}}{{cite book |last1=Gersh-Young |first1=Marjorie |title=Hot Springs and Hot Pools in the Southwest |date=2011 |publisher=Aqua Thermal |location=Santa Cruz, California |isbn=978-1-890880-09-5 |page=102}}
Features
The main spring is located on a hillside above the Jemez River, and flows into a sandy bottomed primitive rock soaking pool before cascading into two additional rock pools of different temperatures terraced on the hillside. The middle pool also has an additional water source from a spring inside a cave with a water temperature 100°F/38°C. The lower pool is the coolest of the three at 95°F. There are two more springs with soaking pools 50 feet uphill and an additional spring located 200 more feet uphill.
Due to overuse, the condition of the area has been subjected to considerable resource damage.{{cite web |title=Santa Fe - Spence Hot Spring Trailhead |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/santafe/recarea/?recid=75826 |publisher=U.S. Forest Service |accessdate=27 August 2020}}
Geology
Spence Hot Springs are located at the edge of a collapsed super volcano, the Valles Caldera, near the Soda Dam.{{cite web |title=Hot Springs & Spas |url=http://www.jemezsprings.org/attractions/hot-springs-spas/ |publisher=Jemez Springs |accessdate=27 August 2020}}
Water profile
The water emerges from the upper spring at 109°F; and at 100°F from the spring in the cave. Naegleria Fowleri has been found in the hot spring water, a potentially fatal parasitic amoeba common in warm and springs.{{cite web |title=Spence Hot Springs |url=https://www.ultimatehotspringsguide.com/spence-hot-springs-new-mexico.html |publisher=Ultimate Hot Springs Guide |accessdate=27 August 2020}}