UK - Roman Baths

The Roman Baths in Bath, Somerset, England, are well-preserved ancient thermae established between 60 and 70 AD during early Roman Britain. This led to the development of a settlement called Aquae Sulis. The baths were used for public bathing until the end of Roman rule in the 5th century AD, and by the following century, they had fallen into disrepair. The site features four main elements: the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House, and a museum showcasing artifacts from Aquae Sulis. Although all buildings at street level were constructed in the 19th century, the location remains a major tourist attraction, drawing over 1.3 million visitors annually. Visitors can explore the baths and museum but cannot enter the water. The water originates from rainfall on the nearby Mendip Hills, filtering through limestone aquifers to depths of 2,700 to 4,300 meters (8,900 to 14,100 feet). Geothermal energy heats the water to temperatures between 69 and 96 °C (156.2 and 204.8 °F), which then rises through fissures in the limestone into the baths. A flow of hot water at 46 °C (114.8 °F) reaches 1,170,000 liters (257,000 imperial gallons) each day from the Pennyquick fault. In 1982, a borehole was created to provide a clean supply of spa water for drinking in the Pump Room.