Monthly Geological Pics

JUNE 16

Las "Burgas"... City thermal fountains in Orense (Galicia-Spain)

With the Cathedral and the Roman Bridge, the “Burgas” thermal sources are a symbol of Orense, one of Galicia’s provincial capitals.

Not in vain and although the phenomenon of thermal waters is not something extraordinary, it is rare to find a steaming fountain in the center of a city, and in this case, it has led to the name of "City of Burgas".

Galicia is the area with the largest geothermal anomalies of the Iberian Peninsula. The regional administration has cataloged 314 medicinal mineral and / or thermal water springs and in the city of Orense, there have been up to 39 thermal mineral water springs identified.

In the Burgas, hyperthermal water springs at a temperature of up to 66°C at a rate of 300 liters per minute. In this post, without going into tourism, therapeutic, folkloric or historical descriptions, we will note their geologiccal where-abouts... 

The city of Ourense is located on an anomalous heat source that defines a single thermal reservoir of medium enthalpy, with multiple springs at different temperatures. Temperature increases on the ground at a rate of 30ºC per kilometer and the source of thermal water is the seepage of rain through granite massif fractures, to a depth of about three kilometers. Three are also the rainwater decades-long filtration cycle to its final upwelling in the springs.

The Romans who sought gold in these regions, as the place name "Ourense" seems to witness, also pursued their own pleasure and well-being. In 1802 a votive altar was discovered here, dedicated to the nymphs and goddesses of the sources. 

We ourselves can now enjoy other hot spots nearby, such as the popular Chavasqueira baths located along the course of the Miño river.