The Boiling Crater of Wai-O-Tapu

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The Boiling crater of Wai-O-Tapu they call the Champagne Pool

What a sight!

When they told us we were going to the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland I was a little skeptical. It sounds like a kids science park. Not really the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the North Island of New Zealand.

I was taken by surprise when I entered and saw no Ferris wheel, roller coaster or Cotton candy stand. Instead I was welcomed with the smell of sulfer and the view of this boiling caldera they call the Champagne Pool. Now that is cool! For a photographer I felt like a kid in a candy store.

The name Champagne Pool comes from the mass amounts of carbon dioxides it spews, similar to a glass of bubbling champagne. This geothermal area is filled with thermal springs and geysers and we spent hours walking around taking in the wonders of mother nature.

Sitting by the edge of the Champagne Pool, I waited patiently for the steam to clear just enough that I could get a good view of the background. The colours, the steam and the contrasting sky helped bring the image all together.

So as you look at this image and take in the beauty, just light a match, smell the sulfer and pretend you are sitting at the edge of a boiling caldera. It is a great way to end the weekend!