Wai-O-Tapu

Words cannot describe the beauty of this place. The Maori call it Sacred Waters as the name translates and you can see why. This particular spring is the Champagne Pool and is 62 m deep. Modern geology explains in detail the workings of surface thermal activity and which chemical elements and oxides define certain colours and levels of acidity. I still prefer to just sit in awe and be carried away by the magic of Mother Earth. The wonders on display are staggering! As much as I normally get more excited about the "organic" aspect of life, such as people, their faces and reactions, flowers etc, today is a day for worshiping the power and eternal beauty of the inorganic.