'8th natural wonder': The hot lake is like a fairyland

Earthquakes and volcanoes occur in rapid succession, creating large-scale disasters. Villages were destroyed, more than 100 people were killed, the island's famous pink and white steps disappeared under the waters of Lake Rotomahana.

Drawing of the volcanic eruption that year.

This was followed by the formation of a valley called the Waimangu Volcanic Rift (Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley). There, there is a lake that as soon as you hear the name, you can feel it. it's hot. People call it the Frying Pan or "Frying Pan" lake.

But that year's Frying Pan is not the current Frying Pan. In 1917, another massive volcanic eruption erupted, affecting the terrain around the lake to help it reach its current size and shape.

The largest hot spring lake in the world

Frying Pan is considered one of the largest hot springs in the world, up to the present time.

The reason this hot spring has such a name is because the water temperature here is always kept at 50-60 degrees Celsius all year round.

The water temperature here is always kept at 50-60 degrees Celsius all year round.

Frying Pan covers an area of ​​38,000 square meters. The shallows have an average temperature of 110-130 degrees F (43 to 54 degrees C). Most of the lake bottom area is only about 5.4 m deep. However, at the vents, the depth can be up to 18 m.

Some sources claim that Frying Pan is the largest hot spring in the world, while others say Boiling Lake in Dominica or Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park are worthy names. army".

Why is it smoky all year round?

If you just look at the photos, many people will think that the white smoke hovering over the lake is fog - formed by cold air combined with high temperature water. However, this dense layer of smoke is the water vapor in the lake rising. It contains carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.

Frying Pan is "home" to many species of organisms, most of which are thermophilic. They have the ability to grow and survive at high temperatures.

The water in Frying Pan Lake has a temperature of up to 50 - 60 degrees Celsius, a level that the human body can't stand, but that doesn't mean we can't conquer.

In the 1970s, Ron Keam, a researcher from the University of Auckland (New Zealand), made a comprehensive survey of Frying Pan Lake. He sits on a specially designed wooden boat that is adaptable to the high temperatures and chemicals in the lake. It's called the Maji Moto boat.

Combining luck and science, Mr. Ron conquered Frying Pan Lake without being swallowed and "cooked".