Snow Monkeys In Hot Springs

In sub-zero temperatures, Japanese macaques soak in the warmth of a volcanic hotspring at Jigokudani (Hell's Valley) in Nagano Province, Japan

The Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), also referred to as Snow Monkeys, live freely in the Jigokudani park

The area is covered by snow in the winter months, and temperatures can drop as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius

Jigokudani is the only known place in the world where monkeys bathe in natural hot springs

There are around 200 monkeys in the park

They come down from the mountains where they spend the night and bathe during the day

The troops of monkeys have strict hierarchies, with babies inheriting their mother's status

Only the higher status monkeys get to bathe in the hot springs

The Japanese macaque is the most northern-living non-human primate in the world

The Snow Monkeys can be watched live on a webcam at www.snowjapan.com/e/daily/webcam/nagano/snow-monkeys.html