Waiotapu Geothermal Area
Waiotapu (Maori for "sacred waters") is an active geothermal area at the southern end of the Okataina Volcanic Centre, just north of the Reporoa caldera, in New Zealand's Taupo Volcanic Zone. Waiotapu has New Zealands largest area of surface thermal activity covering 18 square kilometres. Due to dramatic geothermal conditions beneath the earth, the area has many hot springs, fumaroles, boiling mud pools, mineral rich colourful craters and a geyser.
Rainbow Mountain
Rainbow Mountain is an extinct dacite volcano which lies on the northern edge of the Waiotapu geothermal area. Its Maori name is Maungakakaramea, meaning “mountain of coloured earth”. The mountain is easily recognised by its coloured slopes and unusually shaped summit known as Tihi-o-Rua “the owl's perch”. The multi coloured slopes of Rainbow Mountain are the result of many different minerals found in the soil in this geothermal area.
One of the more prominent colours in the mountain is red due to the many deposits of red ochre. In the past local tribes used this red ochre as a commodity and traded it with other tribes. They found that the intensity of the colour of the ochre increased the deeper they dug into the mountain. This was thought to be temperature related.
Rainbow Mountain has a very volcanic past and can still be seen visibly smouldering in many places. Previously much hotter, the mountain has cooled over recent years, allowing the native vegetation to slowly begin regenerating. This makes it of significant botanical and scientific importance due to its complex mix of plants, some of which are rare and unique to geothermal areas.
The Summit Track
The start of the summit track first takes you to a lookout (Reference Point R1) offering great views of two volcanic craters set against a backdrop of bare brown, orange and red steaming cliffs. It then continues up through regenerating native vegetation and past steaming multi-coloured rocks (given coordinates) to the summit.
If you wish to continue to the top, you get magnificent 360-degree views of the surrounding Rotorua lakes, forests and mountains. On a clear day you can also see Lake Taupo to the south and the volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park. Open to uphill mountain biking only, the Summit Track is also part of a mountain bike loop.
The Earth Cache
To complete this earth cache please email me the answers to the following questions (include your username and the name of this cache). Please do not post answers in your log but feel free to add a picture of yourself/your GPS or interesting point (do not include spoilers). You may log your find as soon as you have emailed the answers to me i.e. you do not need to wait for permission. I will be checking logs and email you if there is a problem. Please no cheating it just spoils it!
Question 1. Reference Point R1 Crater Lakes Lookout: Geothermal areas such as Rainbow Mountain are a harsh environment for plants to grow. Not only are these plants subject to high temperatures and toxic gasses but soil condition throughout geothermal areas is generally poor. Why would geothermal soils be poor for plant growth?
Question 2. Lookout point - given coordinates: What two distinct colours can be seen in the grey cliff face? What do you think causes these two colours?
Question 3. Lookout point - given coordinates: Look for steam vents in the area. How many can you see? What conditions on the day of your visit would affect what you see?
Please respect the area, do not leave the track and take all rubbish home with you. Happy Earth Caching!