Brief of North Thai Geysers, Hot Springs, & Thermal Vents by O P Armstrong, (P.E.

) w/ pictures and maps: 2013 ________________________________________________________________________________________ There are many locations around the north Thailand and perhaps over 100 sites1,2,3 in Thailand and its islands where you can see hot springs. The geysers and warm pools are a popular attraction. There are many hot springs scattered about Northern Thailand along with waterfalls close to these hot springs. Natural hot springs can be loaded with health-giving minerals that may offer benefits to the body, not to mention the relaxing experience. The heat itself is said to release mental stress, relieve muscle aches and backache, help skin problems, and promote well being in general. There are also some areas in South of Thailand where hot springs emerge from the earth. It is especially the case around the Chiang Rai/Mai region. Some have been developed as attractions and are thus a bit touristy, like Sankampaeng hot springs. Still others are beautifully set amid stunning scenery with hardly anyone around, Fang & Lana-Olsen. Most of my maps & pics are linked off page for better viewing. Click the links to see the picture collection. Lana Olsen hot spring is a well run facility close to Mae Suei on Hwy 109 to Fang. The facilities at Lana Olsen are superb. I rate L-O at 5 stars due to close proximity and the well attended details. A view of these pics is recommended. Huay Mark Liam HOT SPRING (Muang district) It is a part of Lam Naam Khok National Park and located on the Khok riverside. The area is a nice and peaceful place for recreation. Its diameter is 5 meters and there is an outdoor hot spa. The average temperature of hot spa is 67 C. The hot spa consists of Fluoride, Nitrate, Sulphate, and Iodine which is not harmful for people who take mineral bath. It is located about 1 km. away from Pha Sert Hot Spa. There are individual rooms avalible. SiamSoakers link is broke.

Pha Sert Hot Spa is located nearby Pong Nam Rorn Backwater, Baan
Pha Sert Pattana, M.6< Doi Hang< Chiang Rai.There is a big outdoor pool for general public. Also nearby are private spa rooms, Thai massage and Camping service. It is across river from Elephant Camp. There are 2 ways to get there. By boat, (read: expensive) from long tail boat pier (CR pier) at Mae Fah Luang Bridge, takes 50 mins. Bus and car use the Nha Kai road, about 20 kms from Den Ha Junction. The roads are curvy but well marked.

Pong Phra Baht (aka Baan Doo) HOT SPRING (Muang district) Located about
8 km north from the city of Chiangrai. It is 2 km west from Baan Doo Market on the left hand side. It is a natural hot spring and it was discovered in 1957. The water temperature is around 60C. The hot spring could probably last for another 50 years. There are gardens, resting areas and private hot spring water bathing rooms. There are 10 rooms each with individual bath tub. Call 053-703-262 for more details.

Pah Tung & Huay Hin Fon Hot Springs (Mae Chan district) A small hot
spring that tourists usually go for recreation before or after go to Doi Mae Salong. It is located in Pa Tung village, Pa Tung Sub-District of Mae Chan. There are 15 private mineral bathrooms. The Huay Hin Fon is suppost to be located within 2 km on the same road, about 7kms. on the Mae Chan-Ta Thone road. The temperature of these springs range between 70-109C. I concurr the Siamsoakers review and was only able to find a single location.

Brief of North Thai Geysers, Hot Springs, & Thermal Vents by O P Armstrong, (P.E.) w/ pictures and maps: 2013 ________________________________________________________________________________________

Also between Chiang Rai/Mai, Fang has dozens of hot springs in a close-knit forested area. You can find them at Ban Pin to the northwest of Fang town. Temperatures go upwards of 90C and the largest hot spring emits a constant jet of steam. This is perhaps the most impressive hot spring of them all, like a moon surface scattered with geysers, as well as a regular spout. Plus excellent facilities. It can be accessed from either the Chaing Mai to Mai Ai road or the Mae Suei Fang road from Chaing Rai. Maliga Hot Spring is located in the north of Chiang Mai province. Malinga Hot Spring is not well known, neither by tourists nor by locals. It may have been different 10-20 years before. The site itself is just off to the north of the main road between Fang and Mai Ai, close to Lao Tu coffee shop. The site is improved since SiamSoakers visit but remains only suitable for egg cooking & a foot soak.

Fang

Mae Kha Jaan & Wiang Pa Pao Hot Spring(s?): (Wiang Pah Pao district)
located in Mae Chedi Mai Sub-District of Wiang Pa Pao. Wiang Pa Pao Hot Spring is a popular road stop point for travelers along Hwy 118 (1019 & 1150). This location is on the road half way between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Thaweesin Geyser is also located nearby, where the water temperature is approximately 95C. It can shoot up to 37 metres high and it occurs every 30 minutes. A popular activity is the boiling of eggs in the hot spring water. You can visit the town, viewing precious stones at Ploymaneewat Lapidary or check out the temple ruins at Wat Pratart Mae Chedi. It is a place that buses stop between Chiangmai & Chiangrai. Souvenir shop and local products are available there. Mae Kha Jan Hot Spring is divided into three hot springs. The average temperature is 80oC. This will boil eggs within 3 minutes. Opposite Mae Kha Jaan Hot spring were mineral bathrooms. Driving to Mae Kha Jan Hot Spring via High Way No.118 to Chiang Mai the same way as Wat Phrajao Thong Thip, pass Wiang Pa Pao and hot spring will be on the left of Mae Khajan Market Mae Khajan. The hot springs can be viewed on either side of the main road here. Boiling eggs in the hot spring pools is popular. Visiting Mae Khajan Hot Springs: Located on highway No.118 approximate 80km from Chiang Mai and 90km from Chiang Rai. This is the tallest geyser in Thailand. The Pong Te Wee hot spring (Wiang Pah Pao district) is suppossidly about 2 km. on the Wiang Pa-Pao road. There are reported to be rooms with bath tubs. N1906.91,E9927.78

Huay Sai Khao hot spring (Phan district of CR) It is located 10km north of
Phan on the east side of Paholyotin road, Hwy#1 towards Payao. There are 3 springs, hot, warm, & cold. The facility is tidy, a bit long in the tooth. It is suitable only for an isolated foot soak. This site is AKA Ban Huay Zai Kao Hot Spring of Mae Lao District, Chiangrai. The Huay Zai hot spring is free & in natural or raw state. The off-ramp serves as an austere car park. See footnote on thai diction & translation.

Phu Sang hot Spring and waterfall

is located in the national park, Phu Sang National Park, located in Chaing Kam District, Phayao province and Tueng (Thoeng) District, Chiang Rai province. The water of Namtok Phu Sang comes from a hot spring with water temperatures around 33-35C. It is mostly frequented by families with small children due to the shallow stream making a super playground.

Brief of North Thai Geysers, Hot Springs, & Thermal Vents by O P Armstrong, (P.E.) w/ pictures and maps: 2013 ________________________________________________________________________________________

Hot springs near Chiang Mai

Sankampaeng

Located about 25 miles to the east of Chiang Mai city, Sankampaeng hot springs are on the tourist trail and one of the most visited attractions in the province. The boiling springs are set in a lovely area and are free to enter. You can see where they come out of the ground and there are also public and private pools onsite that utilise the hot water. Accommodation is available near the springs at the Sankamphaeng Hot Spring Co-operative Village (phone: +66 1 510 0418). Pai Thapae The hot springs in the mountain village of Pai, Mae Hong Son province, are also popular. The hot springs are a little south of town, reached by an ardous drive. Some of the nearby resorts have built public pools using the same spring water and offer better value at 100 baht. Pong Duead On the way to Pai from Chiang Mai in Huay Nam Dang National Park, these hot springs are a lot more impressive than those in Pai. There are three or four of them and they shoot water from geysers up to six or seven feet in height, with clouds of steam bellowing tens of feet into the air. There is also a nature trail here - Pong Duead Nature Trail which stretches for about a mile, along with many waterfalls and viewpoints. Huay Nam Dang National Park is between kilometre markers KM65 and KM66 on the main Chiang Mai to Pai highway, 1095. Tha Pai Hot Spring Location : Amphoe Pai This is another attraction in the area of Huai Nam Dang National Park. The hot spring is two km off Route 1095 at Km. 87. It has an average temperature of 80C. Steam from the spring permeates the site in the morning creating fascinating sights. The area is also rich in teakwood and suitable for overnight camping. There are hot springs located in Amphoe Pai area, named Muang Paeng Hot Spring in Tambon Muang Paeng, Pong Ron Hot Spring in Tambon Mae Hi and Pong Duat Hot Spring in Tambon Tung yao. These springs are just a short distance from Pai and a short walk from the car park at the park headquarters. Also nearby are a couple of resorts within earshot of the springs that have taken advantage and piped in some of the run-off to feed their various spa pools. Tha Pai Spa Camping is the most popular and you can use their pools even if you are not a guest.

Mae Hong Son The town of Mae Hong Son also comes with a couple of decent hot springs - Pha Bong and
Muang Paeng hot springs. Pha Bong, the main one, is about five miles to the south of town on the main highway 108 and comes with mineral water bath cubicles. There are also large, naturallooking pools outdoors and it is free to enter. Mae Taeng Just north of Chiang Mai is Mae Taeng district, which comes with a couple of good hot springs. Pha Pae hot spring (Pong Nam Duet) lies in a pretty valley and park and is less commercialized than many others in Thailand, meaning a much nicer experience. Rung Arun hot spring is another worthwhile hot spring in Mae Taeng. Chae Sawn (Jae Son) Chae Sawn National Park is a bit of a hidden gem as far as tourism goes in the north. It is a rich mountainous area just east of Chiang Mai and northeast of Lampang town and comes with notable hot springs, along with an impressive cascading waterfall and some caves. The hot water comes from nine boreholes and runs down a small stream right in the centre of the parks main area. The 70C waters are mixed with the cooler waters of the waterfall and fed into a series of private spas and two main covered pools. There are more than a dozen rooms for bathing Thai-style. Twelve bungalows and a couple of dormitories are also onsite along with a series of small shops and market stalls.

Brief of North Thai Geysers, Hot Springs, & Thermal Vents by O P Armstrong, (P.E.) w/ pictures and maps: 2013 ________________________________________________________________________________________

Southwestern Thailand Khuan Daeng Hot Spring (Trang Krabi )

Moo 7, Namron Rd., Bo Nam Ron, Kantang, Trang 92110 Thailand's hot springs are not all located only in the northern region, but also in the south. At Moo 7, Tambon Bo Nam Ron, the hot spring is accessible via a road from Kantang (kilometre 10 marker). This natural hot spring has a constant temperature of 60 oC. This hot spring originates from underground volcanic chambers in the Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve Khao Lak There are two sites where you can soak your bones, but they are best combined with another excursion. Along the way to the nearby Khao Lak-Lamru National Park are a group of hot pools at Kapong, where the water temperatures top out at 65oC. This could be enjoyed along with a trip to Lam Ru and Hin Lad waterfall. Ban Bor Dan is the other hot springs site, located between Thai Muang town and the Thai Muang National Park. These waters have a big concentration of minerals and are considered very therapeutic. Again, visitors can combine a soak in the springs with an exploration of the national park.

Thermal or Hot Springs of Chantaburi province of eastern Thailand

In the Pong Namron area of Chantaburi province: This hot springs site is situated at latitude N12o55 by longitude E102o22. The hot spring area was discovered by local villagers. The area could be accessed only very recently due to the demand for gem exploitation. The location is about 250 km from Bangkok via Highway no. 3 (BangkokChantaburi), then along Route 317 (Chantaburi - Sra Keaw) about 40 km to the north, turn right (to the East). The area is reported to be contaminated. It is likely these springs are unfit for tourists. Subsurface temperatures are mostly within the range of 77 to 980C, with pH>9. Reference: 3 The Phu Sang HS was added to the above map, because this map better depicts likely faults in the area. From this map, the Phu Sang heat source is likely deep faulting. A less likely possibility would be an unmapped ignegious intrusion. It is likely that the location of the map fault line likely needs shifting towards the west of Chaing Rai. This would more accurately reflect correspondence of hot springs and faulting.

Brief of North Thai Geysers, Hot Springs, & Thermal Vents by O P Armstrong, (P.E.) w/ pictures and maps: 2013 ________________________________________________________________________________________

Physics & Geology of Hot Springs, Geysers, & Thermal Vents

The main heat source for this phenomenon is from magmas within the crust that intrude to shallower levels from unstable areas such as active volcanic belts, fault zones, and subduction zones. Another heat source is from decay of radioactive elements such as uranium (U), thorium (Th), and potassium (K). Groundwater is the main source of water, which is principally derived from rain and cool water on the surface that percolates to the subsurface along voids, fractures, joints, or faults of rocks. Some water portions may be derived from steam of magmas in a cooling stage (magmatic water). The waterbearing pore spaces of sediments (connate water) can serve as a short term or finite water source. Any continuously active Hot Spring or Geyser will likely be supplied from surface waters. Cool surface water percolates to reservoir rocks and receives heat from the heat sources. This heated water will then flow up along fractures or faults in the rocks to the surface and exit as a hot spring, Geyser or Thermal Vent. The surface water will absorb minerals from surrounding rocks and cycle the minerals to the surface as a result of cooling and depressurization. The principle minerals are silicates, carbonates, and sulfates, with trace elements of various metals contained in the rocks. In the case of radioactive decay heating, one can expect traces of Radon gas to also vent to the surface. Legend: 1&2. San Kamphaeng, 3&4. Mae Chan, 5 Fang, 6. Pa Pae, 7 Doi Suthep 8&9.Doi Inthanon 10&11 Mae Chaem, Ref: 4 points A & B plus fault line added here. The heat source is likely deep faults for these 2 springs. A & B represent anomalies to the radioactive heat source theory proposed by this map. For neither are located over granitic structures depicted by this map. The Phu Sang heat source is likely a deep fault. This is best shown in the previous map. The following map indicates that Huay Sai Khao heat source is a deep fault. The following map does not indicate volcanic rocks serve as heat source for points A & B. Also the location of the map fault line likely needs shifting towards the west of Chaing Rai. This would more accurately reflect correspondence of hot springs and faulting. Furthermore there currently is a propensity towards taller building in the area. This raises questions about safety during regional earthquakes. 5

Brief of North Thai Geysers, Hot Springs, & Thermal Vents by O P Armstrong, (P.E.) w/ pictures and maps: 2013 ________________________________________________________________________________________

Partial extracted Map 3, showing the Sukhothai Fold Belt, Loei Fold Belt, distribution of pre-Cretaceous volcanic rocks in Thailand and study area of the Thoen igneous rocks, Lampang province, northern Thailand (Kosuwan, 2004 and Panjasawatwong et al., 2006). With some Hot Spring locations added. Legend: 1&2. San Kamphaeng, 3&4. Mae Chan, 5. Fang, 6. Pa Pae, 7. Doi Suthep 8&9.Doi Inthanon, 10&11. Mae Chaem, Ref: 4; points A & B are Huay Sai Khao & Phu Sang respectively. The location of the map fault line likely needs shifting towards the west of Chaing Rai. This would more accurately reflect correspondence of hot springs and faulting.
1. Raksasakulwong, M . (2000) Current Issues of the hot springs distribution map in Thailand. In the Proceedings of the World Geothermal Congress. Kyushu -Tohoku, Japan, organized by the International Geothermal Association, May 28-June 10, 2001, pp 1611-1615 Charusiri, P., Chaturongkavanich, S., Takashima, I., Kosuwan, S., Won-In, K., and Ngo N.C. (2000) Application of geothermal resources of Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar to tectonic settings, In the Proceedings of the World Geothermal Congress. Kyushu -Tohoku, Japan, organized by the International Geothermal Association, May 28 to June 10, 2000 pp.10043-10047 Punya Charusiri, Prakarn Buenkhuntod, Krit Won-In, Malatee Thayakupt and Jiraprapa Niampan, Characteristics of The Chantaburi Thermal Spring, Eastern Thailand, J. Sci. Res. Chula. Univ., Vol.28, Special Issue I (NRC-EHWM), (2003) Kawada, K; et-al, Preliminary Study on heat generation from Granites of North Thailand, Bul. Geo. Srvy.Japan Vol.38(1)pp7-12 (1987) Weerapan Srichan, (2011) Petrology and Geochronology of Igneous Rocks from Thoen District, Lampang Province, Northern Thailand from proceedngs of International Conference on Geology, Geotechnology and Mineral Resources of Indochina (GEOINDO 2011) 1-3 December 2011, Khon Kaen, Thailand Kosuwan, P., (2004), Petrochemistry and Tectonic Setting of Mafic Volcanic Rocks in the Khlong Tha Dan Dam Area, Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand: Unplublished M.S. Thesis, Chiang Mai University, 95 p. Panjasawatwong, Y., Khin Zaw, Chantaramee, S., and Limtrakul, P., (2006), Geochemistry and tectonic setting of the Central Loei volcanic rocks, Pak Chom area, Loei, northeastern Thailand: Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, v. 26, p. 7790. Korjedee Thoop, (2002), for R&D Office, Thailand Electical Generating Authority, 11130 Nonthaburi

2.

3. 4. 5.

6. 7.

8.

Brief of North Thai Geysers, Hot Springs, & Thermal Vents by O P Armstrong, (P.E.) w/ pictures and maps: 2013 ________________________________________________________________________________________ The location of the map fault line likely needs shifting to the west of Chaing Rai. This would more accurately reflect correspondence of hot springs and faulting. For example, the 2011 east Burma earthquake was felt so far south as Phu Sang. As was the 2008 Sichuan china quake. The structural engineering requirements and damage prospects may need revisions if they were originally based on incorrect fault locations around Chiang Rai. Footnote: Thai to English diction The reader will notice various spelling for the same location. This is likely arising because the Thai letters are not Latin based. Also when translating, many Thai words are compound words. The translator then has question; keep a compounded word or use smaller words. Both are correct in some way. Thus signs are in one area will have a compounded (lamnamkok) word, while a little further on one may find and uncompounded word(lam namkok). For the sake of internet searching, I choose to select the uncompounded word. The uncompounded is indexed more easily and looking for a partial will score a hit. A compounded word will only hit if searched by the exact phrase. Also some words have the different translations for same name: Zai & Sai or Soet vs. Cert.

Brief of North Thai Geysers, Hot Springs, & Thermal Vents by O P Armstrong, (P.E.) w/ pictures and maps: 2013 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Fault Lines & Thermals Map, (2 Figures) Ref 8

Brief of North Thai Geysers, Hot Springs, & Thermal Vents by O P Armstrong, (P.E.) w/ pictures and maps: 2013 ________________________________________________________________________________________