Sometimes a stream of water suddenly bursts out from an opening in the Earth in the form of a fountain. This is called a spring. Springs generally erupt out of rocks. Springs are of cold water usually but some are hot springs or sulphur springs.

            When it rains, the Earth absorbs a part of the rain-water while the remaining water gets evaporated. Due to the Earth’s gravitational force, the water so absorbed keeps on going down through the holes and cracks in the Earth. And, when this water encounters some rocks on the way, it accumulates there. When this accumulated water finds an opening to come out, it bursts out as a spring. They are often found where permeable rocks lie above impermeable one, particularly in low lying areas. 

            Sometimes the water accumulated inside the Earth has to pass through sections containing sulphur and lime. The sulphur and lime dissolve in water and when this water comes out in the form of a spring, it contains sulphur. Hence, water of such springs has the smell of sulphur and they are called sulphur springs. In India, there are many such springs in Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

                                                                                                Sometimes water from the Earth’s surface reaches deep down in the Earth’s interior. It then starts boiling due to the Earth’s heat. When it comes out through such opening in the Earth in the form of a spring, its water is hot. Such springs are called hot springs. There are many such springs in the United States of America and New Zealand.