Wai-O-Tapu Colors

The most talented artist is Mother Nature. Nobody will beat her with genius, nobody will match her artistry. There is evidence around the globe of her creativity and love of mixing colors into fantastic compositions. We can find them, among others, in the heart of New Zealand's North Island.

About 27 km from Rotorua, the lake town of the same name, is Wai-O-Tapu, an area full of thermal springs and geysers gushing into the air. In the Maori language the name of this geothermically active region means "Holy Waters" .

All Artist's Palette shades

The entire geothermal water area of Wai-O-Tapu is called Artist's Palette . Looking at the color of the area, we will understand where it came from. It is full of small lakes with amazing shades of water. Walking between them is made easier for tourists by specially built platforms. Thanks to them, visitors to the reserve have faster and better access to thermal springs.

The undisputed star of the park is the Champagne Pool , where the green of the water contrasts with the orange banks of the reservoir. The lake is characterized by a high concentration of carbon dioxide, thanks to which the water in it is carbonated and full of bubbles like a bathtub with champagne.

The original color that can be seen in the Artist's Palette is due to complex chemicals. Violet is due to the presence of manganese oxide, white - silica, black - carbon, the orange is antimony, and the green is caloidal sulfur. Iron oxide dyes brown-red, sulfur compounds - light yellow.

Mud and aromatic baths

Holy Waters is part of a nature reserve under the administration of the DOC Conservation Department. is the largest hydrothermal system in the Taupo Volcanic Zone , and at the same time the largest complex of thermal activities. Tourists have access to a small part of the area covering an area of 18 km².

Wai-O-Tapu is explored with the eyes and ... the nose. As is typical for such places, there is a nasal smell in the air, reminiscent of rotten eggs. It's hydrogen sulfide. The presence of minerals in volcanic gases contributes to the lack of fish in the streams, as does the temperature of the springs reaching even 300 ° C. On contact with cold air, it "cools down" to approx. 73 ° C. The whole is complemented by clouds of hot steam rising above the surface of the water.

Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

The smell of hydrogen sulphide and the vapors do not scare tourists - quite the contrary. Hot springs, bubbling mud fields, geysers and reservoirs in the craters of extinct volcanoes are a huge attraction that many want to see, feel and even smell. Those who have few such experiences will be fully satisfied with a visit to Whakarewarewa . It is a village whose inhabitants have used the energy of thermal waters in their daily lives for centuries. You can get acquainted with the dishes of Maori cuisine, as well as buy souvenirs and mud with valuable minerals, effective in the treatment of dermatitis and arthritis, rashes and eczema.

An interesting place not only in Wai-O-Tapu, but also throughout New Zealand, is the Lady Knox geyser . Every day, punctually at 10:15, it throws water to a height of 10 to 20 meters. It is true that the eruption is caused artificially by throwing a special foaming agent into the chambers, but undoubtedly the show, lasting over an hour, makes an impression on tourists.

According to Trip Advisor, the magical thermal land of Wai-O-Tapu is one of the most surreal places in the world. Each year, it attracts thousands of tourists from different countries. Our neighbors are also more and more willing to visit it, as evidenced by, inter alia, possibility to obtain information in Czech. Maybe it's time to visit this exotic place and add to Polish languages?