Frying Pan Lake

Largest hot spring in the world

The Frying Pan Lake is a lake of volcanic origin in New Zealand. The lake is located on the North Island of New Zealand in Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley. It was only on 10 June 1886 the eruption of Mount Tarawera. It is located along with former Waimangu Geyser in one of the craters created at that time, the echo - crater about 10 km southwest of the present-day summit.

Northeast of the lake there is the greater Lake Rotomahana, the nearest settlement is Waimangu about 1 km to the southwest.

Ron Keam from the University of Auckland from 1976 to 1978 resulted in a comprehensive survey of the lake and close-knit depth measurements with a plumb through. Therefore, he used to protect against the hot water a thermally insulated with polyurethane foam wooden dinghy.

The lake has an area of 3.8 ha and a volume of about 200,000 cubic meters, the largest hot spring in the world. The lake is about 300 m long and 200 m wide. The reason is over long distances and on average 6 m deep. Some parts extend in greater depth: the greatest depth ascertained Keam with 20.88 m in the eastern part of the lake, a more profound point with up to 15.03 m located at the south end of the lake.

Its water temperature averages 45 ° C to 55 ° C. The pH of the water is 3.5 and is therefore in the acidic range.

The area around the lake has seen since the eruption that led to its creation, no further volcanic eruptions. However, in the years 1915, 1917, 1924 and 1973, there were outbreaks of steam and hot water. In the years 1900 to 1904 was immediately northwest of the present-day lake is the largest geyser in the world, the Waimangu Geyser, active.