Waiotapu

The Wai -O -Tapu Thermal Wonderland is an area of ​​geothermal activity in New Zealand.

The Waiotapu ( maori for holy water) thermal area formed about 160,000 years ago and is on the edge of the huge caldera is partially filled by Lake Taupo. The whole area is littered with collapsed craters, hot and cold lakes, mud pools and steaming fumaroles.

Particularly noteworthy are the colored precipitates of minerals as well as the area as a yellow (sulfur), orange ( stibnite and realgar ), white (silicon dioxide ), green ( orpiment ), purple ( permanganate ), red and brown (iron oxide and oxide hydroxide ) black (sulfur and carbon) make splash of color unique.

The two highlights are the Champagne Pool, with its bright orange border and the Lady Knox Geyser. The latter is updated daily at 10:15 clock with soap flakes to the outbreak. The water fountain is high up to 20 meters and the outbreak can last up to an hour.