BY: HALEY WERTHMANN Hot Springs National Park

What year did the park become an official national park and why? Hot Springs National Park was made a Hot Springs Reservation on April 20 th, 1832 as an act of the United States Congress. On March 4 th,1921, Hot Springs became a designated national park. The park was reserved to keep the water system uncontaminated, natural, and hot. To this day we still have one untouched natural hot spring named the cascade.

How was the park formed? Hot Springs National Park was created in the Paleozoic era (about 400 million years ago.) This is when North America was under water. Where west-central Arkansas was, there was a deep basin (now known as Ouachita Basin or Embayment.) This basin created sediment. The sediment created sandstone and shale. A large continent moved up from the south and crushed North America making “wrinkles.” Those wrinkles are now known as Ouachita Basin. Although, when the Ouachita basin was created, water was trapped. The trapped water was heated to such as high temperature that it dissolved the silica in to the rock formations. That allowed a small crack for water to rise. Since the cracks are so small the water doesn’t have enough time to cool before it rises. This is how the Hot Spring National Park was formed. This was a when the continents were forming and surprisingly this did not involve volcanic activity.

What types of rocks can be found inside Hot Springs National Park? Hot Springs National Park is not only known for its hot springs, there are also many interesting rocks formations. These rocks include Stanley Shale, Arkansas Novaculite, Polk Creek Shale, Bigfork Chert, and the Womble Shale, they are all sedimentary rocks, along with some younger igneous rocks. These rocks were created in the Paleozoic era, about 400 million years ago. These rocks can be found in low-lying areas. For instance, Stanley Shale covers almost all of the low ground in the city of Hot Springs and south, east, and west sides of the Hot Springs Mountains. For more information check out this website: Bigfork Chert 

What special landforms can be found inside Hot Springs National Park? A special feature of Hot Springs National Park is that the thermal springs are located in the Ouachita Mountains. There are 43 thermal springs in the park. These springs can be seen in a gap between the Hot Springs Mountain and West Mountain. Another unique feature about the hot springs is that the water is not heated by volcanic magma. Instead, the rain water that travels down into the earth, 2,000-8,000 feet deep, is warmed by the natural hot rocks in the earth. The water that emerges from the hot springs is also free of bacteria.

How is the land inside Hot Springs National Park currently changing? The inside of Hot Springs National Park is currently. This is because the National Park is surrounded by the Ouachita Mountains. The layers in the mountains are pressing against each other so hard it is creating sediment. This means the mountains are actually eroding itself, this is called deposition. Instead of getting smaller, the mountains are actually staying the same height. This is because tectonic plates are shifting, moving the mountains upward. This is called the peneplain. This is why the Ouachita Mountains are flat topped.

What environment issues are affecting Hot Springs National Park? Some environmental issues affecting Hot Springs National Park are air pollution, trash dumping, exotic plants, and animals. This is because Hot Springs National Park is located in the middle of a town with a population of about 30,000 people. This means there is more industries creating acid and smoke. Air pollution and trash dumping can mix with the water and plant life in the park and cause the park’s health to deteriorate. The acid and smoke creates acid rain which plays a role in the pollution. And the exotic plants and animals can eat/ take over plants, decreasing the population.

How is technology used to help and preserve Hot Springs National Park? Hot Springs National Park is using a variety of technology to preserve and maintain the park. They are doing everything they can to keep the park in good conditions. For instance, to preserve the 47 historical buildings to a private sector. Also to keep the air and water quality in the park good, Hot Springs is using petroleum-based fuels. Although, the most interesting piece of technology they are using is solar photovoltaic systems. Hot Springs is really pushing to become 100% energy efficient!

Here is a map of the Hot Springs National Park! Here is a relief map (Places of interest in red)  Hot Springs special features are hot springs and mountains ranges.

Here is a relief map of the country! 

Here is another picture of the relief map of the US!

Here is another map of Hot Springs National Park! Here is a topographic map 

Hot Springs National Park Bibliography By: Haley Werthmann America. National Park Service. Government. The Natural Systems in Hot Springs National Park or "Follow the Water" By Durward L. Allen, Bruce M. Kilgore, and Charles H. Lowe, Etc. Dublin Core Element: DC.Publisher, Web. 25 Apr "Environmental Facotrs." 2010 US National Parks and Monuments Travel Guide: USparks.com Inc Web. 9 May "Hot Springs National Park." Wikipedia. Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, Web. 25 Apr Uhler, John William. "Establishment." Hot Springs National Park Information Page. John William Uhler, Web. 25 Apr