The Champagne Pool = New Zealand’s Stunning Geothermal Wai-O-Tapu Wonderland

February 12th, 2011

Tagged Artist's Palette, bizarre, Champagne Pool, environment, geothermal pool, nature, New Zealand, photos, pictures, places, travel, Wai-o-tapu, wonderland

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This geothermal pool, called The Champagne Pool in New Zealand is lovely, perhaps romantic? The water bubbles much like a bubbly glass of champagne from which it gets its name. But before you take a dip, you might like to know it’s hot — over 160 °F and the colors, well . . . some of them come from arsenic and sulfide deposits. It was formed by a hydrothermal eruption 900 years ago. It’s in a crater with a diameter of about 213 feet; the geothermal pool is 230 feet deep. These sacred waters are the most colorful geothermal area in the New Zealand. It’s known as the Champagne Pool at the Artist’s Palette at the Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland. We love these pics!

Famous geothermal pool Waiotapu, New Zealand – The Champagne Pool. Photo #1 by Christopher Schoenbohm

Panorama of geothermal pool Waiotapu (Wai-o-tapu), New Zealand – The Champagne Pool. Photo #2 by Tokyoahead

New Zealand's bubbly geothermal Champagne Pool at the Artist's Palette at the Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland with arsenic orange colors

New Zealand’s Champagne Pool appears orange around the edges which originates from deposits of arsenic and antimony sulfides. Photo #3 by Christian Mehlführer

View overlooking Champagne Pool, Waiotapu, New Zealand

Huge steaming crater of the world famous Champagne Pool – a Wonderland of stunning geothermal activity. The Sacred Waters, or “Wai-O-Tapu” in New Zealand. Photo #4 by Louis Tan

Champagne Pool at the Artist's Palette at the Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland

The Artist’s Palette in Rotorua, New Zealand. The photographer wrote, “This area of the north island is called Rotorua. This, specifically is the Champagne Pool at the Artist’s Palette at the Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland.” Photo #5 by Trey Ratcliff