THERMAL IN TURKEY
 
As mentioned and defined in special definitions and terms section; thermal waters developing as a result of underground accumulation and heating of "juvenile" waters with magmata origin, depending on structural and litological characteristics of underground layers, or "vadose" waters with tectonic and athmospheric roots under high pressure and fluids which consist of vapor and hot gases developing in similar ways are defined as "Geothermal energy sources".
Thermal waters among these fluids include higher amounts of diluted mineral and gas when compared to normal surface and ground waters. The temperatures of these fluids are over 35^oC generally.
Geothermal energy sources are "renewable" natural sources. They do not cause any environmental problems when used in energy generation, heating and thermal treatment facilities.
Geothermal fluids or geothermal sources with their development and characteristics mentioned above, are used in electrical energy generation, heating of housing and greenhouses and for cure and treatment purposes as thermal waters, depending on their temperature.
As a matter of fact, geothermal fluids with a temperature of over 180^oC are used in energy generation, fluids and thermal waters between 45-30^oC are used for cure and treatment purposes through bathing or drinking.
Availability and productivity of geothermal fluids, which became important potential sources in the world and Turkey haved increased after the elimination of problems like corrosion caused by geothermal fluids having high temperatures, rapid sedimantation and scaling has become possible by means of technical developments.
According to the results of geothermal research conducted in the world and Turkey, Turkey has its place among the first ten countries in the world as to its  geothermal source assests. Countries like America and Japan, Iceland and Turkey are countries on higher ranks in this aspect.
Totally, 6000 MW geothermal energy is generated and approximately 1 million housings are heated in the world today. Iceland is an interesting example for applications of this kind. 85% of iceland is heated through geothermal energy. The whole Reykjavik city is heated through geothermal fluid transferred from a distance of 61 km. Similar applications take place in southern Paris in France.
On the other hand, Turkey is placed on Alpine-Himalayan orogenesis zone. For this reason, Turkey is placed on the worlds geothermal zone due to its tectonic and volcanic characteristics. Tectonic precipitation areas of Aegean region, Northern Anatolia earthquake zone and other volcanic regions from the main potential areas of geothermal sources and fluids.
Tourism movement for cure coordinated with supportive treatments like physical treatment, rehabilitation, exercise, psychotherapy and diet under the control of senior physicians in order to make a significant contribution to human health through the combination of mineralized thermal water and mud with the environmental and climate factors of the spring, is called "Thermal Tourism (Thermalism)".