Banhos férreos, Water park in Furnas, Portugal.
Banhos Férreos is a public bathing facility with multiple pools fed by natural hot springs in the volcanic region of São Miguel in the Azores. The water comes directly from underground sources and carries naturally occurring minerals that give it a distinctive character.
Local people first recognized the therapeutic value of these hot springs during the 1800s and began visiting them regularly. The site grew from simple natural bathing places into the organized facility that exists today.
The pools serve as a gathering place where both locals and visitors spend evenings together in the warm water. This creates a relaxed social atmosphere where people naturally connect while enjoying the thermal experience.
The facility is best visited in the evening when it opens for public bathing sessions. Bring a towel and swimwear, and be prepared for weather changes since the pools are outdoors in an open volcanic landscape.
The water has a notable reddish tint due to high iron content from the volcanic geology beneath the surface. This distinctive coloring makes the pools instantly recognizable and sets them apart from typical thermal springs elsewhere.
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