ABSTRACT
North American Indians considered the areas of hot water occurrence to be sacred and they believed in their miraculous powers. Such areas were neutral territories, where everyone could go, regardless of the tribe which they represented. The American Indians have lived here for about 10,000 years. After the arrival of the Europeans, the usage of geothermal resources changed considerably, especially by being commercialized. The ancient Indian civilization is one of the oldest in the world. The history of this country and its people is linked to numerous myths and religious beliefs. As in other regions of the ancient world, thermal springs, being manifestations of divinity, were regarded as gods'holy gifts. Thermal waters enabled ancient people to create treatment centers, where visitors left gifts to thank gods and deities for healing them. They believed that gods had entrusted springs into the care ofnymphs and thus the properties of those springs reflected the temperaments of their careers.
