Natural Hot Springs Research Articles

First report of Acanthamoeba spp. isolation in a recreational hot spring in the Philippines.

Natural hot springs are ideal places and environmental matrices that offer relaxation to people and microorganisms of different types. A total of 40 surface water samples were collected from the five identified collection sites, eight water samples for each site. Collection sites are designated 200 m apart to cover the entire study site. Surface water samples were collected approximately 10-20 cm from the surface. Water samples were filtered, cultured, and microscopically observed for 14 days. After 14 days of cultivation, eight (20%) water samples revealed cystic and trophozoite stages. Polymerase chain reaction using JDP1 and JDP2 specific primers confirmed the presence of Acanthamoeba spp. from two of our isolates in the hot spring, isolates 1.1 and 5.1. Further sequencing revealed that the isolates are Acanthamoeba T20 and Acanthamoeba genotype T7. Sequences were deposited to GenBank and were assigned accession numbers PP741726 and PP741727, respectively. The isolation of Acanthamoeba spp. in hot springs has significant health implications, especially for those who use it for recreational activity. Private resort owners are highly encouraged to regularly monitor and maintain hot spring resorts to avoid future infections.

Thermal Culture as National Heritage Among the Algerian Population Case Study Hammam Debagh Guelma

The thermal culture in Algeria dates back to antiquity, the Romans were among the first to know the therapeuticbenefits of hot water springs in the region, Guelma is one of the Algerian cities which have natural hot springs, overfor centuries the thermal tradition has been perpetuated and has been integrated into the local medical culture. Theprofessional objective is to undertake an in-depth analysis of the thermal culture at Hammam Debagh, Guelma,capitalizing on its rich ancient heritage, and the attractiveness of the public in search of medical care, relaxation andleisure, thus highlighting the importance continues this age-old practice for health and well-being. A thoroughunderstanding of this tradition will help strengthen its attractiveness and promote its potential as a therapeutic andtourism resource.

Local Community Participation in Management of Batur Natural Hot Spring as a Tirta Tourist Attraction in Kintamani, Bangli Regency

The Batur Natural Hot Spring tourist attraction is one of the hot spring tourist attractions in Kintamani and isbelieved to cure skin diseases. The development of Batur Natural Hot Spring as a tourist attraction cannot beseparated from the participation of the local community. Local community participation can be said to be oneof the important aspects of tourism activities to support improving the standard of living of the local Baturcommunity in particular. This research aims to determine the form of local community participation inmanaging the Batur Natural Hot Spring tourist attraction. This research is qualitative research that focuses onlocal community participation. The data in this research was collected through observation, interviews,literature study, and documentation methods. The informal determination technique uses the AccidentalSampling technique, and the data analysis technique uses qualitative descriptive data analysis techniques. Theresults of this research show that local community participation in developing the Batur Natural Hot Springtourist attraction appears to play a very active role which can be seen starting from the planning stage,implementation stage, and evaluation stage.Keywords: Tourism, Participation, Local community

Fluid Chemical and Isotopic Signatures Insighting the Hydrothermal Control of the Wahongshan-Wenquan Fracture Zone (WWFZ), NE Tibetan Plateau

Compared to the southern Tibetan Plateau, the northern part has been regarded as relatively lacking geothermal resources. However, there is no lack of natural hot springs exposed in beads along large-scale fracture systems, and research on them is currently limited to individual hot springs or geothermal systems. This paper focuses on the Wahongshan-Wenquan Fracture Zone (WWFZ), analyzes the formation of five hydrothermal activity zones along the fracture zone in terms of differences in hot water hydrochemical and isotopic composition, and then explores the hot springs’ hydrothermal control in the fracture zone. The results show that the main fractures of the WWFZ are the regional heat control structures, and its near-north–south- and near-east–west-oriented fractures form a fracture system that provides favorable channels for deep hydrothermal convection. Ice and snow meltwater from the Elashan Mountains, with an average elevation of more than 4,500 m above sea level, infiltrates along the fractures, and is heated by deep circulation to form deep geothermal reservoirs. There is no detectable mantle contribution source heat to the hot spring gases, and the heat source is mainly natural heat conduction warming, but the “low-velocity body (LVB)” in the middle and lower crust may be the primary heat source of the high geothermal background in the area. The hot springs’ hydrochemical components show a certain regularity, and the main ionic components, TDS, and water temperature tend to increase away from the main rupture, reflecting the WWFZ controlling effect on hydrothermal transport. In the future, the geothermal research in this area should focus on the hydrothermal control properties of different levels, the nature of fractures, and the thermal contribution of the LVB in the middle and lower crust.

Pro-Environmental Tourism: Lessons Learned from Adventure, Wellness and Eco-tourism in Padusan Village, Mojokerto, East Java

In the aftermath of Covid-19, nature tourism has gained significant traction in Indonesia. Padusan Village in Mojokerto Regency, East Java, stands out as a prime example. Nestled at the foot of Mount Welirang and bordering a lush forest, the village offers a unique blend of adventure, wellness, and ecotourism experiences. This research aims to: 1) Catalog the diverse adventure, wellness, and eco-tourism activities available in Padusan village, and 2) Highlight tourism practices that can foster pro-environmental behaviour industry-wide. A qualitative case study methodology was adopted. Data was gathered through on-site observations and in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was the primary tool for data interpretation, with triangulation ensuring data accuracy. Preliminary findings underscore the village’s effective use of its natural hot springs and sustainable forest resources. More importantly, the nature-centric tourism in Padusan Village not only offers rejuvenation but also nudges tourists towards environmentally responsible behaviours. This study underscores the potential of nature tourism in shaping sustainable practices in the broader tourism industry.

Geological controls on the geothermal system and hydrogeochemistry of the deep low-salinity Upper Cretaceous aquifers in the Zharkent (eastern Ily) Basin, south-eastern Kazakhstan

The Zharkent (eastern Ily) Basin is renowned for its low-salinity natural hot springs and geothermal wells, primarily utilized for recreational purposes. Despite the growing commercial interest, the geothermal system in this area is very poorly documented or understood. Accordingly, we conducted a multi-disciplinary study, focusing on the advanced characterization of waters from productive Cretaceous strata, along with the interpretation of geothermal gradients and reservoir recharge in a geological context. Conventional wisdom asserts that Ily is an intracratonic basin characterized by high geothermal heat in its central part and by geothermal aquifers that are rapidly replenished by meteoric water recharge via porous strata exposed on the basin margin. Our results argue for an alternative and expanded interpretation of these systems. Elevated geothermal gradients (with average of up to 40°C/km in the southern part of the basin and locally possibly up to 55°C/km) are likely associated with crustal thinning owing to the development of a pull-apart basin. Anomalously fresh water (<1 g/L) in the deep (up to 2850 m depth) Upper Cretaceous reservoir is charged laterally, predominantly by snowmelt waters from basin bounding mountains. Recharge includes both mountain-front recharge (MFR), where water infiltrates into outcrops of reservoir rock near the mountain fronts, and mountain-block recharge (MBR), characterized by deep groundwater flow through fractured, predominantly rhyolite basement rocks (as evidenced from their solutes in reservoir waters). The combination of elevated geothermal gradients, low salinity water chemistry, and excellent reservoir properties makes the studied reservoir horizon an attractive target for geothermal development. Our results are applicable to other geothermal systems in strike-slip settings across Central Asia, and potentially worldwide.

Towards understanding formation of polytungstates in tungsten-bearing hot springs and its environmental implications

Polytungstates have toxicity, mobility, and bioavailability quite different from those of monomeric tungstates, the most common tungsten (W) species. To date, relevant studies of polytungstates have been conducted under laboratory conditions, and there is a lack of studies on such W species in natural waters. In the present study, polytungstates at environmentally relevant concentrations were detected in a number of investigated hot springs. All the hot springs with high polytungstates concentrations (> 10 μg/L) have vent temperatures above 70 °C and pH values above 8, and polytungstates are immeasurable in all the acidic hot springs. Further inspection showed that the detected polytungstates were not isopolytungstates but likely heteropolytungstates forming via incorporation of silicate or borate enriched in the hot springs into tungstates at elevated temperatures. These detectable polytungstates, however, might also be polymeric thiotungstates in view of their close correlation with aqueous sulfide and thiotungstates and their specific retention time during the chromatographic separation. More precise identification of the polytungstates depends on improvement of the used analytical technique to achieve a further chromatographic separation of different kinds of polytungstates. Upon the discharge of the hot springs, the aqueous W was transported to the hot spring sediments due to its adsorption onto the Fe-bearing minerals there. Although the pH values of the hot springs were the critical parameter for the W adsorption, the substantial formation of polytungstates in some neutral to alkaline hot springs could inhibit the adsorption to some degree, thereby contributing somewhat to the enrichment of W in such springs. This is the first study reporting polytungstates and their environmental behavior in natural hot springs. It is possible that polytungstates are widely present in high-temperature, neutral to alkaline hot springs hydrochemically similar to those involved in this study.

Edukasi Pengelolaan Sampah Organik untuk Generasi Muda di SMPN 1 Kuningan

Penatahan Village is a village located in Penebel sub-district, Tabanan regency, Bali Province. The Penatahan village has six hamlets consisting of Penatahan Kaja Hamlet, Penatahan Kelod Village, Mogan Hamlet, Bedugul Hamlet, Tegayang Hamlet, and Kekeran Hamlet. In Penatahan Village there is a unit education which includes Penatah 1 Public Elementary School and Kuningan 1 Public Junior High School which are located on Jl. Batukaru, Penatahan Village, Kec. Kuningan, Kab. Kiuningan. Penatahan village has natural attractions and attractions that can be used as tourist attractions, both natural, cultural, culinary, and spiritual attractions. Some of the attractions of Penatahan Village are natural hot springs which are the main attraction in Penatahan Village. The attractiveness of the Penatah village needs to be maintained and especially in the cleanliness of the surrounding environment. Behind all this, there are many efforts that must be made by the local government to be able to maintain quality in terms of adequate cleanliness and support this. In this case, the young generation plays an important role in participating. as well as maintaining the cleanliness of the surrounding environment, especially in the area that is most highlighted, namely the tourist area. The involvement of the younger generation in the Penatahan village is very important in efforts to maintain cleanliness because this is a shared responsibility in maintaining the cleanliness of the surrounding environment. The efforts that need to be made by the government local community, namely involving youth and adolescents in activities related to environmental hygiene and the need for education for youth and the younger generation so that this can be easily carried out in the future

The Development of Hapanasan Hot Spring Nature Tourism in Rokan Hulu, Riau, Using the Analysis Hierarchy Process (AHP)

R Hapanasan hot spring, located in Rokan Hulu Regency, Riau Province, is a natural tourist destination with high potential. Despite its potential, the resource utilization carried out by the community and local government is not yet fully developed. This study aims to analyze the priority factors for developing Hapanasan hot spring. This study collects primary data by observing the area and conducting Forum Group Discussions (FGD). Secondary data was obtained from document studies applied to various data sources such as the Tourism Office, Regional Development Planning Agency, and Non-Governmental Organizations. The method used in this study is the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and the data is processed with expert choice software. Based on the results of the AHP and the software analysis, the priority for developing natural hot spring tourism in Hapanasanis in the criteria for aspects of tourist objects and attractions with a value of 0.438, while the sub-criteria for the structure of natural tourism is improving facilities and infrastructure with a value of 0.869, and there is an alternative in the form of increasing the capacity of elements of facilities and infrastructure with a value of 0.290.

Potential development of organic Rankine cycle (ORC) power generation system by utilizing heat from natural hot-spring in Malaysia

Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is widely used because of its ability to work with low and medium-grade heat resources. ORC basically operate by using organic working fluid which allows the application of Rankine Cycle to be operate at various range of heat resources depend on the properties of working fluid. This allows wide application of ORC power cycle at temperature below 370 °C where the steam-based Rankine Cycle are no longer efficient. This present paper discusses the potential development of micro power generation based on the ORC concept by utilizing heat from natural hot spring in Malaysia. The performance of the systems is analysed based on three different working fluids which are R134a, R410a and R245-fa. The comparison was done by the variation of hot water inlet temperatures in the range of 50 °C to 75 °C at the evaporator and 25 °C of ambient water at the condenser. The results indicates that R245-fa had 9 % thermal efficiency when the hot water inlet temperature is 75 °C which is the highest among the other working fluids in the similar condition. Meanwhile, the ideal power output of turbine is also analysed. The R410 can generate 2.38 kW power output when the input temperature of hot water is 75 °C which is the highest as compared to other working fluid at similar condition. Therefore, it can conclude that the micro-scale power generation systems can be developed based on ORC power cycle by utilizing heat resources by natural hot spring in Malaysia.

City Image Model in Creating Tourist Engagement

The problem in this study is the decline in tourist visits to hot spring natural tourist destinations in Indonesia during the Covid-19 pandemic. City image and nostalgic emotion play an essential role in influencing tourist engagement through memorable tourism experiences as mediation for visiting tourist destinations. This study aims to determine the effect of city image and nostalgic emotion on tourist engagement within memorable tourism experiences as a mediation. The research subjects were tourists in natural hot spring tourist destinations in West Java Province. The method used in this research was the explanatory survey. Respondents in this study were visitors to hot spring natural tourist destinations in Indonesia accidentally, totaling 400 people. The sampling technique used in this research was proportional random sampling.
 Keywords: city images, nostalgic emotions, memorable tourism experiences, tourist engagement

Desa Wisata dan Prinsip Keberlanjutan

Title: Tourism Village and the Principles of Sustainability, Case Study: Negeri Oma, Central Moluccas Regency The issue of sustainability becomes essential when a village or area is to be developed as a tourist destination because it has the potential to impact the life and environment of an area. Negeri Oma has been listed as one of the developing tourist villages in Central Mollucas Regency, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, since 2021. Some of its natural uniqueness are natural freshwater springs called Air Asol, natural hot springs, namely Air Panas Asol And Air Panas Bak, Pantai Sila, and the Tanjung Simale, scattered in the Negeri Oma Tourism Village area. The carrying capacity of tourism that has been owned is the availability of land and sea transportation, the availability of tourism and non-tourism supporting facilities, and the involvement of local communities. Research on tourism villages and sustainability principles uses descriptive research methods with a tourism architecture approach, in which data and information from the field are examined and supported by theories related to the research topic. The study results show that the development of the Negeri Oma Tourism Village has led to sustainable tourism. However, some deficiencies still require improvement and support from various parties so that tourism actors can continuously improve and enjoy the implementation principles.

Effect of Balneotherapy on Skin Lesion at Hot Springs in Southern Ethiopia: A Single-Arm Prospective Cohort Study.

Balneotherapy is the use of mineral water for the treatment of a wide range of diseases including skin lesions. Even though Ethiopia has a large number of places with natural hot springs, their therapeutic value has not been thoroughly studied. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of balneotherapy among patients with skin lesions at hot springs in southern Ethiopia. A single-arm prospective cohort study design was used to assess patient's progress from their skin lesion complaint after using the hot water for at least three consecutive days or more. An individual visiting the hot springs site and staying there for at least three days or more was included in the study. From four hot springs sites in Southern Ethiopia, 1320 study participants who were 18 years of age or older were enrolled. The data were gathered using a standardized questionnaire and a physical examination. A descriptive analysis was made. Of the total, 142 (10.8%) of them had various skin lesions. Flexural lesions accounted 87 (61.3%), non-specific skin conditions 51 (35.9%), co-lesions at the scalp, external ear canal, trunk, and various locations, and psoriatic lesions comprised 4.8%. There were 72 (82.8%) typical eczematous lesions among the total number of flexural lesions. After using balneotherapy for 3-7 days once daily, 69 (95.2%) cases of eczematous dermatitis and 30 (58.8%) cases of non-specific skin issues showed improvement from the lesion. Additionally, after 30 days of bathing once daily, the PASI score of more than 90% of the psoriatic cases dropped to a score of one. Patients with skin lesions benefit significantly from balneotherapy when it lasts for three or more days. In order to improve skin lesions, proper application for at least a week or longer is highly beneficial.

Molecular identification of thermophilic bacteria with antimicrobial activity isolated from hot springs in North Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract. Ginting CN, Piska F, Harmileni, Fachrial E. 2023. Molecular identification of thermophilic bacteria with antimicrobial activity isolated from hot springs in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 752-758. Microorganisms such as thermophilic bacteria are promising sources of antimicrobial compounds due to their abundance, which has yet to be widely investigated. Therefore, this study aims to identify thermophilic bacteria isolated from natural hot springs, Sidebuk Debuk, in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The bacteria were isolated from sediments and hot springs water. Isolated 10 bacteria were characterized and identified based on their morphological and biochemical properties, which included gelatinase activity, motility, citrate utilization, triple sugar iron agar test, catalase test, cell shape, color, and Gram staining. Antimicrobial activity was tested using the disc diffusion method against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The most potential isolates were identified molecularly by amplification of 16S rRNA genes using universal primers. The sequences result were trimmed and assembled using BioEdit and submitted to BLAST to determine the homology of the bacteria. The isolate ITU9 was identified as Bacillus megaterium and exhibited the best antimicrobial activity with an inhibition zone of 9.5 mm against S. aureus during 72 h of incubation. This research showed that the thermophilic B. megaterium strain ITU9 was successfully isolated from Sidebuk Debuk hot springs and had stable antimicrobial activity for 72 h against E. coli and S. aureus.

Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria from Natural Hot Spring and Insights into the Thermophilic Cellulase Production.

A thermophilic cellulase-producing bacterium,Bacillus velezensisstrain MRC 5958, from Bakra natural hot Springs, India was characterized through genome sequencing. It has a genome size of 4,467,129bp and a GC content of 45.7%. A cellulase purified from its fermentation broth has a molecular weight of about 18kDa. The optimum temperature and pH for carboxymethyl cellulase activity were at 55°C and pH ~ 7.0. The enzyme is stable over a wide range of temperatures from 30°C to 70°C with maximum activity observed at 48h of incubation. The strain produces cellulase on alkali-treated sugarcane bagasse, rice straw, rice husk, rice bran, and sawdust. The sugarcane bagasse exhibited the most effective carbon source for cellulase production at (85 U/ml) followed by rice bran (68 U/ml), rice husk (60 U/ml), rice straw (48 U/ml), and sawdust (39 U/ml). Therefore, this strain can be a potential thermostable cellulase-producing candidate for converting the waste biomass into biofuel and other industrial enzymes.

Diversity of Thermophilic Prokaryotes Inhabiting Russian Natural Hot Springs

Diversity of Thermophilic Prokaryotes Inhabiting Russian Natural Hot Springs

Identification, characterization and hydrolase producing performance of thermophilic bacteria: geothermal hot springs in the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia Regions of Turkey.

In the last two decades, researchers have increasingly focused on the rich microorganism-based diversity of natural hot spring sources to explore the benefits of thermophiles in industrial and biotechnological fields. Within the scope of this study, a total of 83 thermophilic Bacilli strains were isolated from 7 different geothermal hot springs (at temperatures ranging between 40 and 85 °C) located in the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia Regions of Turkey. The physiological, morphological, biochemical and molecular properties of the isolates were determined. As a result of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, 5 different species (Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus sp., Bacillus subtilis, Geobacillus kaustophilus, and Weizmannia coagulans,) were identified. B. licheniformis and B. subtilis were the most frequently encountered species among those obtained from the researched hot spring sources. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of the isolated species. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the groups and the bacteria in terms of the locations or optimum temperatures of the isolates. The bacterial isolates were screened for amylase, cellulase, lipase and protease hydrolytic enzyme activities. The hydrolytic enzyme production potentials among the isolates were identified in 68 (82%) isolates for amylase, 34 (41%) for cellulase, 69 (83%) for lipase and 73 (88%) for protease. All isolates were found to have at least one or more extracellular enzyme activities. Additionally, it was determined that 27 of the existing isolates (32.8%) were able to produce all of the aforementioned hydrolytic enzymes.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10482-021-01678-5.

Perception and lived experience on health effects of natural hot spring water bath

Background: Natural hot spring bath has enormous health benefits. The water found in natural hot springs contains a variety of different minerals which shows positive benefits on rheumatism, skin diseases, gastritis, sinusitis, cardiac diseases, joint pain and many more. The healing effect is mostly from mineral composition.Methods: Phenomenological study was conducted on twenty-one participants who were taking natural hot spring water bath in Singha tatopani, Myagdi. Each participant was randomly selected. Eight In-depth interview and two focus group discussion were used for collecting information. People who have immediate bath experience were included in the study and those who were ill and not able to response the question due to illness were excluded from the study. Informed consent was taken from each participant before participation. Afterwards transcripts were transcribe and translated in English and analyzed using thematic analysis was done with the means of Ms. Excel.Results: Participants perceived natural hot spring water bath has positive effects on health and experience large sweating and excretion of urine while bathing. It helps to run their digestive system smoothly, improve blood circulation, and prevent skin problem, relief uric acid, sinusitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, nose allergy, chest allergy, bronchitis and insomnia. Hot spring foment their pain organ and promote health of accidental victims, physically handicapped people, minimized uterine problem of women, eye itching and epiphora (watery eye).Conclusions: Common diseases Gastritis, rheumatism, skin disease, uric acid can be relieved by taking natural hot spring water bath as well as it help to promote and improve their health status. That’s why natural hot spring water bath can be a beneficial for improvement of public health.

Chemical composition and nutritional value of the fish grown under the conditions of a natural hot spring of the Almaty region

The article presents the results of the study of the nutritional,biological value and the chemical composition of the Nile tilapiafish, grown in the natural hot spring of Chondzhy, usingdifferent formulations of grower feed. Also, the chemical compositionand nutritional value of the sharptooth catfish wereinvestigated for comparative analysis. Nutritional value wascharacterized by the content of water, nitrogenous matter, lipids,minerals, carbohydrates and vitamins. It was found that thisfeed additive is completely harmless, does not have negativeconsequences.

Tourist loyalty to hot springs destination: the role of tourist motivation, destination image, and tourist satisfaction

ABSTRACT Natural hot springs tourism is one of the least researched areas in tourism literature. This research aims to observe tourist loyalty to natural hot springs tourism through the roles of tourist motivation, destination image, and tourist satisfaction. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the respondents and a total of 404 valid responses were used for the analysis. The results show that all variables tested have positive and significant effects on tourist destination loyalty. Satisfaction is the most influential variable. Destination image does not directly affect loyalty, but it has a significant indirect effect through satisfaction. Tourist push motivation does not directly influence satisfaction; however, these two variables are indirectly and positively linked by destination image. These findings indicate that tourist satisfaction and the destination image are important variables that contribute to hot springs tourist destination loyalty. Therefore, destination managers should establish a higher tourist satisfaction level to sustain tourist loyalty.