Saturday, December 9, 2017

Karimizu Geopark: Obama, Nagasaki Prefecture

Karimizu Spring Geopark in Obama, Nagasaki has a cold water natural spring as well as many hot water springs as well.  The Karimizu Mineral Spring located at the Obama Hot Springs Resort Town on the west side of the Shimabara Peninsular is the only spring that comprises a bubbling effect similar to opening a can of soft drink.  The gaseous components in the chloride spring are melted in the shallow ground water and the 25-27℃ carbonated spring contains low quantities of hydro sulfide.

The Karimizu Spring Geopark Nagasaki is officially classified as a Hot Spring because its temperature is above 24 degrees which is the cutoff point for whether a body of water is actually groundwater or not.

It's amazing to see nature at its best working efficiently and even more surprising that the water is cool to touch.  At first, being that you are at a Hot Spring Resort and the spring water is bubbling at the surface, gives one the impression that the water is boiling at 100 degrees.  However the shock of realizing that it is actually a reasonable temperature is gratifying.  The spring water is actually safe to drink but trust me when I say it is not very pleasant.  The carbonated water is clear but has a slight smell from the sulfide and thus is not really a delicious drink but by all means try for yourself, if you are game of course?

Check out the Karimizu Spring Geopark on a map:

 



Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

Lots of great information in English


Interesting to see and feel

Carbonated natural spring

Closeup of the bubble




Please take a look at Karimizu Spring Geopark Nagasaki video on the link provided below: