Colorado home to 'world's deepest hot spring' – and it heats up to a deadly temp

The Spring Resort and Spa lays claim to being home to the 'world's deepest geothermal hot spring,' the Mother Spring. However, the Mother Spring's full depth is still unknown.

In 2011, Guinness World Records measured the hot spring. A hydrologist from Basing Engineering in Durango used a plumb line that was 1,002 feet long to measure the spring. The line never hit the bottom, proving that the spring is at least 1,000 feet deep, possibly even deeper.

Located in Pagosa Springs, these hot springs were originally discovered by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and were revered for their rejuvenating and healing qualities. In the 1860s, the U.S. Army studied the springs and their medicinal effects. The first bathhouse was built in 1881 and after news of the healing waters spread, people flocked to the area to experience the springs for themselves. The Spring Resort and Spa is now considered a world-class hot spring resort.

Swimming in the record-setting Mother Spring is prohibited and dangerous, as its temperatures have been measured at up to 144 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it feeds 25 individual hot spring pools, with a range of temperatures and sizes. It is also open for public viewing.

As well as the hot springs, the resort includes a spa, restaurant, outdoor grill, bar, and café. It also offers wellness classes and other activities, so there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Learn more about this southwestern Colorado hot spring destination here.