Describe the formation of a hot spring?

Question

Its for a science class.... please give details...thanks! and i will choose a best answer for the one thats most helpful

Answer 1

Rainwater seeps through faults and fractured rocks down to a hot layer of rock where it gets heated. After being heated, it can return to the surface as steam or as hot springs. Volcanic, or recently volcanic, areas tend to have more hot springs than other places but hot springs are surprisingly widespread. Here's a website talking about geothermal energy and heat in the earth:
http://geothermal.marin.org/GEOpresentation/
Photo of steam: http://geothermal.marin.org/GEOpresentation/sld009.htm
Hotsprings and mudpots: http://geothermal.marin.org/GEOpresentation/sld011.htm
Drawing of rainwater going down through fractures and getting heated at depth: http://geothermal.marin.org/GEOpresentation/sld012.htm

Answer 2

A hot spring is formed from a hot spot under the earth's crust. For example, the geysers in Yellowstone National Park are formed from the hot spot underneath it. This is a pocket under the crust that is filled with magma.