“Artist’s palette” and “The Champagne Pool”: Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Located on the North Island of New Zealand, the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is one of the country’s most famous attractions

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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ovchinnikova

Located on the North Island of New Zealand, the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland is one of the country’s most famous attractions. Photo: “The Champagne Pool.”

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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ovchinnikova

The Champagne Pool is a 65 meter-wide lake. It was named for the bubbling carbon dioxide which looks like champagne

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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ovchinnikova

The temperature on the surface is 75 degrees C, whereas in depth it reaches 260 degrees

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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ovchinnikova

The pool’s water is oversaturated with semimetal compounds such as arsenic and antimony sulphides which form colorful sediments. Bright stripes of underwater orange oxides contrast with light grey lime deposits

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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ovchinnikova

“Artist’s Palette” is one more colorful spots in the park. Colored “eyelets” look like spots of paint

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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ovchinnikova

Emerald Pool

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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ovchinnikova

A waterfall in clouds of steam

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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ovchinnikova

Pre-historic forest

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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ovchinnikova

One should walk with extreme caution in the fumarole fields. Jumping is out of the question for fear of falling into underground passages created by hot gases

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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ovchinnikova

The Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. The words “wai-o-tapu” means “sacred waters” in Maori

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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ovchinnikova

The Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland