Springs of the Prelitoral and Littoral mountain range

The different hydrothermal manifestations of Catalonia appear in two well defined morphostructural units: Pyrenees and Catalánides. Catalánides are the two mountain ranges of Prelittoral and Littoral separated by a graben known as Prelittoral low. Its recharge zone is the Montseny Massif; the waters are infiltrated rain into depths of 2,000 to 3,000 meters with a temperature of 90-130° dissolving the minerals in rocks and ascending by convection, this way the waters flow through the failures.

The origin of the springs

The origin of the thermal springs seems to be the deep infiltration of the rainwater. Heated, it rises to the surface by thermosyphon effect, taking advantage of the tectonic fractures areas. Its discharge rate is constant, since the stock of these geothermal systems is very abundant. The circulation of this water is deep, roughly 3,000 meters. At Prelittoral mountain range the minerals become dissolved and incorporated into its chemical composition by friction, while Littoral mountain range is by sedimentation (the Spring of Caldetes).

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The Spring of Caldetes

The spring flowing in Caldes d’Estrac is situated at the point of tectonic fracture determined by a fault that connects Vallès-Penedès depression with Littoral system at an approximate depth of 2,800 meters, near the watercourse of Caldetes, whose thermal trunk is branched by the effect of surface fracturing, appearing the “Font Picant” in Argentona and Titus Spring in Arenys de Mar. It is heated by geothermal effect (magma), rising to the surface at 38.8°C by the thermosyphon effect, taking advantage of the tectonic fractures. Its mineralization happens with granitic minerals and by sedimentation. In the last 200 years the physico-chemical analysis has been unchanged, with the same flow and temperature.


  • Lès

    Thermal and hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Arties

    Thermal and hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Tredòs

    Thermal and hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Boí

    Thermal and hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Espot

    Thermal and hydrogen sulfide spring

  • St. Vicenç

    Thermal and hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Senillers

    Thermal and hydrogen sulfide spring

  • La Pedra

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Bagà

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Combrien

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Vilada

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Matamala

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Ripoll

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Ribes de Fresser

    Thermal spring

  • St Joan de les Abadesses

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • St Llorenç Muga

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • La Mercè

    Thermal and hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Cantallops

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • St. Climent Sescebes

    Thermal and hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Dosquers

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • St. Jaume Llierca

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Mieres

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Banyoles

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Amer

    Carbonic spring

  • El Pasteral

    Carbonic spring

  • Grup St. Gregori

    Carbonic spring

  • Grup Girona

    Carbonic spring

  • Madremanya

    Carbonic spring

  • Cassà de la Selva

    Carbonic spring

  • Grup Llagostera

    Carbonic spring

  • Caldes de Malavella

    Thermal and carbonic spring

  • Santa Coloma de Farners

    Thermal spring

  • La Sellera de Ter

    Carbonic spring

  • St. Hilari Sacalm

    Carbonic spring

  • La Font Santa

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Tona

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Caldetes

    Thermal spring

  • La Garriga

    Thermal spring

  • Caldes de Montbui

    Thermal spring

  • La Puda de Montserrat

    Thermal and hydrogen sulfide spring

  • St. Pere Sallavimera

    Hydrogen sulfide spring

  • Fontcalda de Gandesa

    Thermal spring