Te Waikoropupū Springs facts for kids
Te Waikoropupū Springs, often called Pupu Springs, are amazing natural springs in Golden Bay, New Zealand. You can find them on the South Island. These springs are famous for two main things: how incredibly clear their water is, and how much water flows out of them every second! They are also very special and sacred to the Māori people, who are the native people of New Zealand. The water from these springs flows into the Te Waikoropupū River, which then joins the Tākaka River.
Super Clear Water
The water at Te Waikoropupū Springs is super clear! You can see an average of 63 meters (about 200 feet) through it. That's like being able to see from one end of a football field almost to the other! The water stays cool at about 11.7 degrees Celsius all the time.
For a long time, until 2011, these springs had the clearest fresh water in the world. Only water found under glaciers in Antarctica was clearer. But now, the clearest fresh water is in Blue Lake, which is also in the Tasman District of New Zealand.
How Much Water Flows Out?
These springs are also amazing because of how much water they release. There are eight main spots where water gushes out. It's estimated that 14,000 liters of water come out every second! That's enough water to fill about 40 bathtubs in just one second.
In a TV show from 1974, they said this amount of water could supply a whole city the size of Boston, Massachusetts. The bottom of the springs is covered with bright white sand. Water from some smaller vents pushes this sand up, making it look like the sand is dancing! If you're lucky enough to get permission to dive here, seeing the 'dancing sands' is a highlight.
A Sacred Place
Te Waikoropupū Springs are a very special place for the Māori people. They are registered as Wahi Tapu (a sacred place) with the Māori Heritage Council.
Māori legends say that Waikoropupū is the home of a female taniwha (a guardian spirit) named Huriawa. She is one of the three main taniwha of Aotearoa (the Māori name for New Zealand). Huriawa can travel deep under the land and sea to clear blocked waterways. She is known for being brave and wise. People believe she still rests in the waters of Waikoropupū when she's not busy helping other places.
At the entrance to the springs, the Department of Conservation has a sign that explains more: "Te Waikoropupū Springs are a taonga (treasure) and waahi tapu (a sacred place) for Māori people. The stories of Huriawa, its taniwha (guardian spirit), tell the legends of Te Waikoropupū. In Māori tradition, the Springs are waiora, which means the purest form of water. This water is seen as the spiritual and physical source of life. The Springs provide water for healing. In the past, they were used for special blessings during births, deaths, and when travelers left or returned."
