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Rotorua Hydrothermal Area

New Zealand - April 05-08, 2009

  • The Rotorua area on New Zealand's North Island is a wonderland of hydrothermal activity ranging from geysers to boiling mud pools to steam vents. There are so many interesting sights that I've compiled a collection of some of my favorites here.
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    Along side the scalding hot thermal "Champagne Pool" at Wai-O-Tapu, New Zealand.

    The shoreline contains colonies of extremophile bacteria that thrive in the hot water which is laced with minerals such as antimony, gold, silver, mercury and arsenic.

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    An overview of Champagne Pool. It is possible that life on Earth began in pools similar to this one.

    The water here is a scalding 70C.

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    Pohutu Geyser erupting.

    Getting up close to film a scene for Angry Planet.

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    Pohutu and Prince of Wales' Feathers Geysers.

    Te Puia Hydrothermal Area.

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    Bubbling mud pool.

    Bubbling mud pool.

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    Lady Knox Geyser. It erupts every day at 10:30.

    This geyser is triggered each day by dropping 300 grams of biodegradable soap into the throat of the geyser.

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    Large pools of boiling mud.

    Mud bubbles bursting.

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    Mud bubbles bursting.

    More boiling mud.

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    The Devil's Bath. It gets its colour from a mixture of sulfur and ferrous salts.

    Devil's Ink Pots - Boiling crude oil with floating deposits of graphite and carbon.