Tuesday 27 July 2021

Waimangu Volcanic Valley - Part 2

 

Following on from last week's post - part 1 - the following photos were taken about halfway down the track. This one above, is where we could see the dried sulphur on and around the rocks above the steaming water.

This one is named the "Inferno Crater". It is a large hot spring with a geyser located at the bottom of the lake. The water temperature can reach up to 80 degrees celsius with an acidity up to ph 2.2 with a lake level of up to 12 metres.

We stood on the bridge below to see into this boiling hot fast moving stream. "Waimangu" means "black water" and comes from the water that was thrown up from the original geyser.

We stood over this bridge to look at the bubbling water below. You wouldn't want to fall in would you?


The next 3 photos are part of the silica pink and white terraces at Waimangu originally created by thermal waters flowing from inside the earth.


Known by Maori as "Tarata" meaning "Tattooed rocks" these at one time covered 3 hectares and descending 30m.


The terraces apparently used to leave peoples skin feeling soft and refreshed from the clear silky water. 


The little geyser above is one of many that can be seen. Apparently this is part of where steam comes out from the cliffs and bush near "Rift Valley".  Since the eruption this area has been naturally populated by algae, bacteria, mosses and many species of native ferns, shrubs and trees.

The original terraces and pools would've looked something like this before the Tarawera Eruption now most of it has been covered up.

Part 3 coming up next week. Linking up with Our World TuesdayTravel TuesdayTuesday TreasuresThrough my lensMy corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

21 comments:

William Kendall said...

A fascinating landscape.

Tigger's Mum said...

Amazing how close the vegetstion grows to that very hot water.

Veronica Lee said...

This would be awesome to see in person - I can almost smell the sulphur!

Fabulous photos as always, Amy!

Photo Cache said...

The Inferno Crater is incredible!

Hope all's well with you. Stay safe.

Worth a Thousand Words

Iris Flavia said...

80C?! By golly! I think I would skip this... It looks beautiful, though! How the heck did they build the bridge?!

At Home In New Zealand said...

Impressive photos Amy, of this spectacular place. You capture it well.

Tom said...

...nature sure has a lot of interesting treasures and this is one of them. This is something that I will never see here. Thanks Amy for joining the party.

Fun60 said...

I got goosebumps just looking at that bridge thinking of someone falling in! I imagine the smell was overpowering. An amazing natural area.

Sharon said...

This is an amazing place.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

This is wonderful -- but eerie at the same time . It is easy to see how such places became part of Native legends and lore. They do inspire deep thoughts!

Lydia C. Lee said...

This stuff is so fascinating. I love volcanoes and all that goes with it.

Einari Sinappi said...

Very interesting place and fine photography too. Thank You Very Much for Your public support to my new blog!!

Shiju Sugunan said...

Such a fascinating place. Your photos make it more inviting!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

What a magical spot Amy. The old photo of the terraces the way they were is fabulous ✨

s.c said...

Still looks a bit like paradise

magiceye said...

Gorgeous captures all!

NCSue said...

The photos I see of New Zealand make me yearn to visit there.
Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2021/07/a-bit-of-saint-kitts.html.

Yvonne said...

Amazing what hot water flowing out of a volcanic area can create. Love the photos.

NatureFootstep said...

so beautiful and wonderful. Now I really would love to travel once more. To see this again. Thanks for sharing!

Klara said...

impressive continuation of the part I.

betty-NZ said...

It's truly an incredible place with so much to see.

Thanks for sharing your link at My Corner of the World this week!

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