The Frying Pan Lake is one of the largest hot springs in the world. It is actually at the top spot beating all the other biggest must-see hot springs around the world like the Boiling Lake in Dominica, Lesser Antilles, Glenwood Springs in Colorado, and the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park. No one can deny how smoking hot this lake is, and the name just tells you immediately what to expect when you see it.
Photo by: Arjan Veen via Panoramio
The Frying Pan Lake is located at the Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley in Rotorua, New Zealand, which is known to be as the youngest geothermal system in the world. It occupies 38,000 square meters as a part of a volcanic crater with a flat floor that is 6 meters deep and vents that could go deep up to 20 meters. Numerous acid springs feed the lake that makes it continue to be dangerously boiling hot with an average temperature of between 45 and 55°C. Sorry guys, you can’t relax and dip your toes in here.
Photo by: André Bonacin via Panoramio
In 1886, Mount Tarawera erupted, claiming the record as New Zealand’s largest volcanic eruption which brought great damage and killed hundreds of people. It also had created a huge crater which later on filled by acid springs. After 130 years, the world got a newly-formed hot spring which famously sits boiling in New Zealand - the Frying Pan Lake.
Photo via: A Dutchcorner in NZ
But just like a pan on top of a lit stove, the Frying Pan Lake keeps its boiling-looking state and continues to release off steam and various gases with the help of the magma just somewhere near its flat floor. Besides the steam and gases which are mainly carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide coming off, you’ll also easily notice the natural chimney at the side of the lake.
Photo via: A Dutchcorner in NZ
The lake’s water has an average PH of 3.5 which means it is acidic and unsafe for consumption. So don’t you dare try making several quick cups of hot chocolate using this water!
Photo via: A Dutchcorner in NZ
Photo via: A Dutchcorner in NZ
Blue or green algae can be found growing at the sides of the lake. These produce keratin seen as an orange tint in the water to protect themselves from the UV light. Other than that, the Frying Pan Lake is home for a range of thermophiles like bacteria that survives in unbelievably hot settings. Other thermophiles include the single-celled archaea. Most of the life forms living in this lake are believed to have lived the earliest on Earth.
Photo by: Arjan Veen via Panoramio
Not only the Frying Pan Lake, you’ll definitely enjoy the other sites that are offered by the beautiful Waimangu. You can also visit the Emeral Pools, Warbrick Terrace, or the other steaming Inferno Crater which has a temperature that can go up to 74°C.
Photo via: Nature Flip
Photo via: Nature Flip
For those who want to see the Frying Pan Lake together with the other spots in Waimangu, you can enjoy its self-guided nature walks as you witness the amazing landscape with the geysers, lakes, volcanic craters, bird life, plants, and more. You can just follow the crater walkways, go on a hike, or take a cruise at Lake Rotomahana where you can watch great thermal activity right at this lake’s shores. Your day will definitely be filled with a hot yet breathtaking adventure.
Video: Frying Pan Lake
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