5. Hot Springs Throughout History

Throughout time, natural hot springs were the reason for communities to establish settlements close to thermal water sources to use them for health benefits, recreation, and domestic purposes. An extensive exploration of the history of hot spring use has led to establishing a timeline that is to a large degree based on written accounts. The extent of the history of natural hot springs clearly demonstrates that their usage has worldwide origins, reaching back to ancient civilisations and most likely even further to prehistoric cultures. Records of early societies and their traditional use of natural hot springs as well as their remaining geoheritage are discussed and supported with examples from various countries. The use of hot springs for health and recreation is embedded in the history of all countries, where such hydrothermal resources were considered a blessing by the communities who settles in their vicinity.