Karlovarské termy
General Characteristics
County (administration):
Karlovarský kraj
District (town):
Karlovy Vary
Village:
Karlovy Vary
Cadastre:
Karlovy Vary
Map sheets:
11-21 Karlovy Vary, 11-214 Karlovy Vary
Accessibility:
no traffic restriction ( by car)
ID:
4471
Geology
Short characteristics of the site:
The unique thermal spring structure of Karlovy Vary, fully exposed during the Quaternary period due to tectonic shifts and the erosive redirection of the Teplá River, is situated within the geologically active Ohře Rift. This location, characterized by a thinned Earth's crust and deep fault intersections, facilitates the ascent of magmatic CO2 and terrestrial heat from depths of up to 60 km, which drives the hydrothermal system. The thermal water is primarily of meteoric origin, infiltrating from the surrounding mountain ranges to be heated and enriched with minerals underground before rising rapidly as a lower-density gas-water mixture; this physical principle underpins the periodic outbursts of the main spring Vřídlo. With a remarkably stable total yield of approximately 2,000 l/min concentrated in a narrow fault zone, the system currently supports 84 documented outputs, including 19 certified medicinal sources. Chemically, these waters are nearly identical, classified as the highly mineralized (6.4–6.8 g/l) Na-HCO3-SO4-Cl "Karlovy Vary type," potentially deriving their specific mineral content from deep-seated fossil brines.
Regional geologic unit:
Bohemian Massif > Saxothuringicum > Krušné hory Mts. (Erzgebirge) Pluton
Stratigraphy:
Devonian - Permian
Subject:
hydrogeology
Geological phenomenon:
spring, river source, vein
Genesis:
hydrothermal mineralization, tectonic, volcanic
Rock:
granite
Territorial protection
Level of protection:
Geological localities in Protected landscape area
Part of LEPA (Large-size especially protected areas):
Slavkovský les
Part of national geopark:
Egeria
Conflicts of interests:
without conflicts
References
- Hynie, O. (1963): Hydrogeologie ČSSR II, Minerální vody. Nakladatelství ČSAV.
- Kolářová, M. – Myslil, V. (1979): Minerální vody Západočeského kraje. Ústř. úst. geol. Praha.
- Krásný, J., et al. (2012): Podzemní vody České republiky. Regionální hydrogeologie prostých a minerálních vod. – Čes. geol. služba. Praha.
- Vylita, B. (1990): S geologem po Karlových Varech. Ústř. Úst. Geol. Praha.
Elaboration and Updating
Elaborated by:
Iva Kůrková, 28.01.2026
Updated by:
David Landa, 06.02.2026
Citation
The database Important geological localities of the Czech Republic: 4471 [online]. Prague: Czech Geological Survey, 1998 [cit. 2023-06-16]. Available from: https:// lokality.geology.cz/4471.
Location in map:
Assessment
Scientifical assesment:
extraordinary
Educational assesment:
major
Significance:
international
Representativeness:
major
Geological importance:
geo-regional value (mapping), geoturistic value
Excursion locality:
yes
Locality conditions:
no problems
You can send information about a change in the status of the site to lokality@geology.cz
