Uunartoq Hot Spring, Natural hot spring on Uunartoq Island, Greenland
Uunartoq Hot Spring is a natural thermal source on an island off Greenland where multiple springs merge into a stone-lined pool. The water maintains around 38 degrees Celsius (100°F) and provides views of glaciers and snow-covered peaks in the distance.
The area was discovered roughly one thousand years ago by Norse settlers who used the warm waters for healing and rest after difficult journeys. This early use shows how valuable this natural resource became for people living in such a harsh landscape.
The springs serve as a gathering place where visitors and locals can bathe while taking in the surrounding landscape. This site holds special significance as a natural retreat in the Arctic, offering a rare opportunity to experience warmth in an otherwise frozen environment.
Access is only by boat departing from Qaqortoq harbor, with the journey taking around one hour each way. Book your ride in advance through local operators, as service does not run daily and availability can be limited.
The pool is one of the few places on Earth where you can bathe in warm water while icebergs drift past and frozen ocean surrounds you. This contrast between warmth and extreme cold creates an unusual bathing experience found nowhere else.
Location: Kujalleq
GPS coordinates: 60.50749,-45.33361
Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:09
Hot springs form where geothermal activity or groundwater systems naturally heat water. This collection features such springs across volcanic zones, mountain ranges and remote areas on all continents. Each location has distinct mineral content and temperatures shaped by its underlying geology. In Iceland, the Blue Lagoon offers mineral-rich water in a lava field near Grindavík, while Deildartunguhver in the west produces one of Europe's most powerful hot springs. Pamukkale in Turkey's Denizli region displays terraced limestone pools formed by calcium-rich thermal water. The Széchenyi Baths in Budapest draw water exceeding 160 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius) from nearly 4,300 feet (1,300 meters) below ground. In Wyoming, Yellowstone's Grand Prismatic Spring shows intense colors produced by its size and thermophilic bacteria. Japan hosts numerous onsen, including Takaragawa in Gunma Prefecture along a river and Yubatake in Kusatsu with visible high mineral output. Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano is known for macaques that bathe there. In North America, the collection spans Banff Upper Hot Springs in Alberta, Chena Hot Springs in Alaska and smaller sites such as Baker Hot Springs in Utah. Grutas Tolantongo in Hidalgo, Mexico, combines warm pools with river flows in a canyon. New Zealand's geothermal zones appear at Champagne Pool in Waiotapu and Hell's Gate Park near Rotorua.
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