Kidscorner

Friday 22 April 2011

Waimangu Valley

When we visited Rotorua we also visited Waimangu valley 20 km south of Rotorua. Waimangy means "black water"

On its skyline you see Tarawera mountain which is a sleeping vulcano. The latest eruption in 1886 ripped the mountain in two, increased the size of lake Rotomahana 20 times and created seven craters in what is Waimungu Valley. It is the youngest geothermal area in the world.

We walked through this amazing area when it was extremely hot. My broo had a hard time but I was too distracted by the beauty of this land.

Frying pan lake. This lake is one of worlds largest hot pools and measure 38000 square metres. The temperature is between
45 and 55°C.  The lake is acidic. The bubbles you see are created by carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide.
Steaming Cathedral Rocks
Frying Pan Lake overflows through this notch at a temperature of about 50 degree. Along its margin the stream forms deposits which contain traces of elements such antimony, molybdenum, arsenic and tungsten. These minerals, along with blue-green algae, form the spectacular orange, brown, green and yellow colours seen along the edge and about the hot springs.

Close up of a bubbling hotspring


I can do better: sprouting blubs and bubbles


Inferno crater lake Very acidic (2.1 PH) This is the largest geyser like feature in the world The geyser cannot be seen. It is at the bottom of the lake. I found this one absolutely magic!


These terraces are composed of a similar material as the pink and white terraces that were situated at Lake Rotomahahana but destroyed by the 1886 Tarawera eruption. They looked  like the Pamukale terraces in Turkey
Warbrick Terrace a multicoloured fast growing sillica platform forming over an old stream terrace in a similar way as the marble terrace.

Information comes from the wanderers guide. The walk cost a bit but its worth every dollar. Just loved it. for a bit more you can also get a boat trip but we were a bit late in the day.  Oh I love NZ

Arohanui, marja

14 comments:

  1. I can see why you were distracted by the beauty of Waimangu Valley Marja.
    These are marvelous photos!
    Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs
    Peggy xxxxxx

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  2. I haven't visited for a while Marja so it's particularly good to be back and to see your wonderful photos here, after all the struggles NZ has been through.

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  3. Dit is wel een heel bijzondere tocht geweest. En wat een geweldig gedetaileerde beschrijvingen. De foto's wekken een heel aparte sfeer op, prachtige kleuren, maar tevens schuilt er een zeker gevaar achter. Erg mooie plaatjes Marja. Dit soort beelden en verhalen vind ik nu zo leuk om te lezen en te bekijken.

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  4. I love New Zealand to and I can say that I have widnessed everything with my own eyes. by the way, you forgot to tell that it was a very hot day but because of the fact that we walkt on warmed up ground the outside temperature was more than 40 degrees. this was one of the highlights from my last trip to New Zealand. great pictures Marja.

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  5. What an amazing place. I've never seen anything like it! I too have just returned from hot and mountainous place!

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  6. Hi Marja! I was in Roturoa, but not in Waimangu... But it looks wonderful!!

    Sorry for the absence, but one week off means three weeks busy to recover... Hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend!!

    PS: I thought you would like my two last posts, but didn't catch any comment at Blogtroptter Two... ;)

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  7. Wonderful places,Marja!I enjoyed to see your pics!

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  8. I followed a breadcrumb here - and am delighted to find you. This is an exquisite post ~~ thank you for sharing!

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  9. Hi Marja! Thanks for the comments at Blogtrotter Two, which is still strolling in Amsterdam... Enjoy and have a superb weekend!!

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  10. Gorgeous. Very like our Mt. Lassen area in California and of course, Yellowstone National Park.

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  11. Hoi Marja.
    (Ik neem aan dat ik Nederlands kan schrijven?)
    Dankjewel voor je berichtje op mijn blog en ik dacht gelijk...."even bij jouw koekeloeren" :)
    Wil je geloven dat ik blij ben dat ik dat gedaan heb ?!!
    Wat een waanzinninge mooie tocht hebben jullie gemaakt zeg !! Ongelooflik hoe mooi moeder natuur is in NZ!!

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  12. Absolutely stunning images, Marja.
    The earth is such a beautiful place.
    Thank you so much for sharing.

    (Thanks also for visiting & commenting over at my blog.)

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  13. Magical indeed!!!!!!!!!!! New Zealand is now on the TOP of my places to see one day.

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Thank you!!