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 Tuesday, Travel Tuesday, Tuesday Treasures, Through my lens, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.