The
Boiling Lake
Dominica,
West Indies - April 08 - 12, 2007
The Lake - Dominica's Boiling Lake is amazing natural phenomenon.
The current belief is that it is a flooded volcanic fumarole that
vents extremely hot volcanic gasses into the lake which causes
the water to violently boil. It is tucked away amongst the greenest
mountains and is a strenuous hike just to get to it but the trip
is totally worth it. The lake is over 300 feet across and boils
away like a kettle. The steam coming off the water drifts around
in the variable winds and often obscures the view of the lake's
surface, but when the winds shift, the amazing lake reveals itself.
The area is a designated UNESCO world heritage site.
The Mission - This trip to Dominica was to examine the possibility
of being the first person to ever traverse out to the middle of
the Boiling Lake by rope. The plan is to return in July and rig
several ropes across the entire span of the lake, then I will
go out to the center, suspended high above the churning water
and take water temperature measurements, gather samples and take
depth measurements from the middle of the active lake. Tremendous
logistical planning is in the works to get the necessary equipment
and help up to this remote site.
The first glimpse of the Boiling Lake is
a plume of steam in a sea of green, up close it is a churning
cauldron of grayish boilng water.
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The view from the far side of the lake looking
back. This area is very difficult to access due to steep slopes
and thick jungle.
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