Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley facts for kids
The Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley is an amazing area in New Zealand. It was created on June 10, 1886, by a huge volcanic eruption. This was the eruption of Mount Tarawera. The valley is on the North Island of New Zealand.
Waimangu means "black water" in the Māori language. This name comes from the Waimangu Geyser. When it erupted, it shot out water that was black with mud and rocks. This geyser was active from 1900 to 1904.
Today, Waimangu is a popular place to visit. It has the world's largest hot spring, called Frying Pan Lake. It also has the steaming, pale blue Inferno Crater Lake. This lake is the world's largest geyser-like feature. The actual geyser is deep at the bottom of the lake.
After the eruption, plants slowly grew back in the valley. Now, you can see many native ferns, shrubs, and trees. These plants help support native birds like kereru, tui, fantail, and bellbird. You might also spot black swans on Lake Rotomahana.
Waimangu is a special place. It is protected as a Scenic Reserve by the Department of Conservation NZ. This is because its plants grew back naturally after the eruption. No humans helped plant them! Many of Waimangu's hot spots are very important worldwide.
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A Fiery Beginning: Waimangu's History
The Mount Tarawera eruption in 1886 was the biggest in New Zealand for 700 years. It created the Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley. This valley is at the end of a 17 km long crack in the earth. This crack formed during the one-day eruption.
The eruption completely destroyed all plants in the Waimangu Valley. The area was covered in volcanic ash and mud. This layer was about 20 meters thick.
Over the next ten years, new hot springs and geysers appeared in the valley. Before 1886, there was no such activity here. Plants slowly started to grow back around 1900. The new soil began to settle and become stable.
The first big hot spot was the Waimangu Geyser. It was active from 1900 to 1904. Later eruptions changed the area around Echo Crater and Inferno Crater. Eruptions in 1915 and 1917 made Echo Crater bigger. By mid-1918, the craters from the 1917 eruption filled with water. This formed Frying Pan Lake. Smaller eruptions continued through the 1900s. The most recent was in 1981.
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Amazing Hot Spots: Geothermal Features
The Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley is 4 km long. It runs from Southern Crater to Lake Rotomahana. This area has been very active since the 1886 eruption. It has three craters filled with lakes: Southern Crater, Echo Crater, and Inferno Crater. There are also other craters covered in bush.
Southern Crater is 50 meters deep. It formed during the 1886 eruption. It has not been very active since then. Its floor is filled with a shallow, cold lake called Emerald Pool. This lake is mostly rainwater. Its water is usually brown.
A short distance away is Echo Crater. This is the biggest crater in the area. It is filled with the steaming hot Frying Pan Lake. This is the largest hot spring in the world. The lake is about 6 meters deep. It covers 38,000 square meters. Its water is about 55°C and is acidic. The water that flows out of the lake forms Waimangu Stream. This stream flows through the valley to Lake Rotomahana.
You can see colorful terraces made of rock on the west side of Frying Pan Lake. The extinct Waimangu Geyser was once located east of Echo Crater. This crater area is still very active. You can see steaming Cathedral Rocks to the north. There are also many hot springs and silica formations. These are called "Hot Springs of Mother Earth."
The edges of Waimangu Stream have delicate silica formations. They also have colorful mineral deposits. These deposits contain tiny amounts of arsenic, molybdenum, antimony, and tungsten. The stream bed is home to blue-green algae. These algae form colorful colonies from bright green to orange. In this area, you can find the beautiful Bird's Nest Terrace. This delicate silica terrace has a small, volcano-shaped spring on top. This spring shoots out near-boiling water about 1 meter high. The terrace is covered in blue-green algae. This creates a colorful mix of green and orange.
Further along, Waimangu Stream flows past Clamshell Spring. This is a hot spring with boiling, silica-rich water. The stream then goes through a deep natural trench. Its walls have silica formations that look like icicles. These formed from dripping mineral-rich water.
North of this area is Inferno Crater. It is filled with a striking pale blue lake. The water is very acidic, with a pH as low as 2.2. This crater was blasted into the side of the mountain during the 1886 eruption. It is still the site of the world's largest geyser-like feature. The actual geyser is at the bottom of the lake, so you can't see it. However, you can see some active steam vents (fumaroles) on the shore. The water level of this lake changes in a special way. It is connected to Frying Pan Lake.
Mt. Haszard was named after a teacher and his family. They died during the Mount Tarawera eruption. This small mountain has Raupo Pond Crater, Fairy Crater, and Black Crater. All these craters formed during the eruption. They are now completely covered in native bush.
Waimangu Stream continues east past Mt Haszard. It flows past a slope of kaolin clay with hot springs. Then it joins the cold Haumi Stream. This cools the water down a lot.
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Other hot spots in the lower valley include the Marble Terrace. This has a large flat area and walls made of similar material to the famous Pink and White Terraces. There is also the multi-colored Warbrick Terrace. The white and orange silica deposits of the Marble Terrace come from Iodine Pool. Small waves of 97°C water overflow the pool. Iodine Pool is named for the brown color of the rocks around it.
Warbrick Terrace is at the end of the Rift Valley. It is named after the Warbrick family. They guided tours in the area after the 1886 eruption. This terrace has fast-growing orange and white silica platforms. From the 1930s to the 1950s, a small geyser was active here. This area has several small, clear hot springs. It also has a prominent dam-like structure. This dam forms around a pale blue pool of silica-rich water. The dam started growing in the 1990s. It is helped by algae growth. It makes the pond behind it deeper and deeper. The pond sometimes drains, showing the delicate silica formations.
Life Returns: Plants and Animals
Waimangu is home to many tiny living things and plants. They have adapted to the different hot conditions. Some bacteria can live in temperatures of 70°C. Algae grow in very acidic water. Mosses and other plants grow in soil temperatures up to 55°C.
All the plants in the valley started growing after the 1890s. This was after the 1886 eruption destroyed everything. Over the last 120 years, plants have grown back naturally. Their seeds and spores were carried by wind and birds. Humans did not plant anything here. Small eruptions still disturbed the plants. For example, the 1917 Echo Crater eruption destroyed many plants.
The valley now has a rich plant ecosystem. It includes almost 50 different tree and shrub species. There are also about 50 types of ferns and many other plants and grasses. Some plants, like kanuka, grow low to the ground because of the warm soil. Arching clubmoss can grow in soil over 50°C. There are also large groups of threatened fern species. Some plants cannot handle frost. They only grow in hot areas in New Zealand.
Different types of bacteria and blue-green algae live together. They are found in the beds of hot water streams. This is especially true in the stream flowing from Frying Pan Lake. The algae and bacteria form colorful carpets. Their colors range from orange to bright green and blue. This depends on the water temperature and sulfur. The edges of these streams often have mosses and ferns.
Some non-native plants have also spread into the valley. Animals like possums, rats, and mice have also arrived. A pest control plan started in 2000. Efforts are being made to keep Patiti Island in Lake Rotomahana free of pests.
Visiting Waimangu: Tourism and Trails
People started visiting Waimangu Valley when the Waimangu Geyser erupted in 1900. Visitors from Rotorua wanted to see the geyser. It reportedly shot water up to 460 meters high. It stopped erupting in late 1904. A tourist trip called the "Round Trip" began in 1902/1903.
In 1903, four people died from a sudden eruption of the Waimangu Geyser. Even with the dangers, the area stayed popular. The 1917 Echo Crater eruption destroyed a nearby building. It also killed two people. This event was the last major one in the valley. It changed the landscape by forming Frying Pan Lake. The ruins of the building were removed in 1970.
Waimangu's intense hot activity makes it interesting to scientists. Geologists and volcanologists study the area. Botanists are also interested in the unique plants that live there. These plants can handle many different soil types and temperatures. Scientific equipment was put in the valley in 1970. This was to study the connection between Frying Pan Lake and Inferno Crater Lake.
Since 1990, a company called Waimangu Volcanic Valley Ltd has managed tourism. They have won awards for tourism and the environment. They offer a shuttle bus service through the valley. It runs between the visitor center and Lake Rotomahana. There is also a boat cruise on Lake Rotomahana. The bus stops at three places along the walking track. The entry fee includes unlimited bus rides. The boat cruise costs extra.
The valley has a visitor center, which opened in 2000. There is also a cafe and gift shop. Toilets are available near Warbrick Terrace. The visitor center is on Waimangu Road. It is 6 km from State Highway 5. This is about a fifteen-minute drive south of Rotorua.
The main walk through the Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley is 3.6 km long. It has easy gravel paths and boardwalks. Most of it is wheelchair accessible. The walk starts at the visitor center and goes downhill. You will pass Southern Crater, Echo Crater, and Frying Pan Lake. You will also see other hot spots, Marble Terrace, and Warbrick Terrace. The walk ends at Lake Rotomahana. A short detour of 50 steps leads to a viewing platform for Inferno Crater Lake. The walk usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours. You can use the shuttle bus to return to the visitor center. You can also use it to shorten your walk.
You can explore the valley on your own. Guided tours are also available. The 45-minute boat cruise shows you hot spots along Lake Rotomahana's shores. You can only see these from the water.
The Mt Haszard Hiking Trail opened in 2005. It is steeper but still a good walking track. This trail follows parts of the old "Round Trip" route from the early 1900s. It climbs up from Inferno Crater. It goes around Raupo Pond Crater, Fairy Crater, and Black Crater. There are great spots for panoramic views of the valley. This trail adds 20 minutes to your walking time. However, it does not pass any major active hot spots. It is a good idea to visit the hot spots between Bird's Nest Terrace and Haumi Stream first.
In August 2013, the Te Ara Ahi bicycle trail was finished. This trail includes Waimangu. You can now ride a bike from Rotorua all the way to the Waimangu Volcanic Valley. The 30 km section from Rotorua to Waimangu takes 3–4 hours. It is an easy to medium ride on a concrete bike path and then Waimangu Road.
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See also
In Spanish: Valle volcánico de Waimangu para niños
