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Category
Geothermal features
Described geothermal features
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What is included in this category?
This category includes the most impressive geothermal features in the world.
Categories of geothermal features
The following categories of natural wonders fit into the category of geothermal features:
- Geothermal fields – locations, where the heated rocks – magma – are closer to the surface of the ground. The surface water there seeps through the ground, reaches heated rocks, gets overheated and rises back, upwards, on its path dissolving diverse substances and creating various interesting natural phenomena.
- Fumaroles – openings in the ground (also under the water) where heated gases and vapors are emitted. Most fumaroles are short-lived but some fumaroles or groups of fumaroles exist for decades or even centuries.
Travertine terraces in Pamukkale, Turkey / Antoine Taveneaux, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 - Geysers – hot springs which at more or less regular intervals shoot up a fountain of boiling water and steam.
- Thermal springs – springs that have a significantly higher water temperature than the average yearly temperature of their respective localities. This is also a subcategory of springs.
- Many spring travertine formations – sediments of travertine that have been created by thermal springs. Frequently travertine forms impressive natural terraces and other interesting formations.
- Volcanoes – openings or ruptures in the Earth’s crust, where hot magma and/or gases are (or were) emitted.
Some records of geothermal features
- The tallest volcano is Ojos del Salado, Chile – 6,891 m tall. This volcano contains also the world’s highest-located lake at a height of 6,390 m.
- The oldest active volcano is Mount Cameroon, Cameroon. Its activity continues for some 30 million years.
Shanay-Timpishka, healer Huan Flores plays flute./ Boiling1, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 - The tallest geyser in the world is Steamboat Geyser, USA. It erupts rarely, but then – up to 116 m high!
- The largest hot spring in the world is Frying Pan Lake, New Zealand. The area of this hot spring lake is 3.8 ha.
- Most likely, the largest travertine terraces in the world are in Huanglong Valley, China. These terraces were created by mildly thermal springs and extend for 3.63 km, height difference is 530 m. Travertine there has formed thousands of pools.
- The largest boiling river in the world is Shanay-Timpishka, Peru. The hot part of this river is 6.24 km long, the temperature of river can reach 97 °C and springs in the river can be up to 99.1 °C hot.
- Possibly, the highest thermal waterfall is the 130 m tall Gran Termal Falls, Costa Rica. This waterfall has formed on Rio Caliente – a thermal stream that starts from hot springs near the summit of Irazú Volcano.
Top 25 locations with the most impressive geothermal features
Africa
Dallol hot springs and geysers
Ethiopia
One of the most unusual places on Earth is Dallol Volcano. It is dubbed to be the most colorful place on Earth and the hottest place in the world. This is the only volcano in the world below sea level and without water over it. This place has got the only geysers of salt and acid in the world – and lots of them!
Asia
Kelimutu
Indonesia, Lesser Sunda Islands
System of three closely located crater lakes. Each of the lakes has different, changing colors – from bright red to green and blue.
Valley of Geysers
Russia
One of the largest and most unusual geyser fields in the world, the only large geyser field in Asia. Consists of more than 200 geysers, most erupting at various angles. Massive mudflow covered approximately two-thirds of geysers but the valley still is a very interesting natural monument. Geyser Velikan is up to 40 m tall.
Australia and Oceania
Wai-O-Tapu
New Zealand
One of the most beautiful geothermal areas worldwide. Besides Lady Knox geyser, mud pools, numerous hot springs, and sinter terraces it contains a highly unusual hot spring – Champagne Pool, constantly filled with carbon dioxide bubbles. Along the rim of this spring are deposited bright orange arsenic and antimony salts.
Orakei Korako
New Zealand
A geothermal area with unique, colorful sinter terraces and geysers. The largest geyser field in New Zealand with some 35 active geysers. The lower terrace – Emerald Terrace – is the largest sinter terrace in New Zealand. Part of it is flooded by a hydropower station, submerging some 200 hot springs and 70 geysers.
Whakarewarewa geothermal area
New Zealand
Geothermal area in Rotorua city with unique cultural properties. The facilities offered by geothermal fields have been used by Maori since at least 1350 AD – they developed bathtubs, made food here. The area contains seven active geysers including the up to 30 m high Pohutu Geyser.
Waimangu geothermal area
New Zealand
Geothermal area, created by Mount Tarawera eruption in 1886. The area contains many interesting features. Frying Pan Lake is the largest hot spring in the world – the area of this hot lake is 3.8 ha. Warbrick Terraces and Marble Terraces are sinter terraces in the process of formation. Inferno Crater is the largest geyser-like lake – a light blue steaming lake with a fluctuating water level.
Europe
Strokkur
Iceland
Strokkur is a very intense geyser, erupting 25 – 35 m high every 4 – 8 minutes.
Haukadalur geothermal area
Iceland
One of the most famous geothermal fields. Two spectacular geysers – Geysir and Strokkur – are located close together. Geysir has given the name to the geological phenomenon of geysers. Geysir has been up to 100 m high in the past. Strokkur is very intense, erupting 25 – 35 m high every 4 – 8 minutes. In the area are some more geysers and hot springs.
Geysir
Iceland
Geysir has given the name to the geological phenomenon of geysers. Geysir has been up to 100 m high in the past.
Hveravellir Geothermal Field
Iceland
Beautiful geothermal field and popular tourist destination. Area contains several notable hot springs and geysers, such as Gjósandi, Bræðrahver, Grænihver, Rauðihver, Öskurhóll, Fagrihver and others. Here are at least six geysers.
Gunnuhver geothermal area
Iceland
A geothermal field with mud pools and fumaroles, former geysers. A legend about a ghost that was dragged into the fumarole.
Krysuvik – Seltun geothermal area (KrýsuvÃk – Seltún)
Iceland
Spectacular geothermal fields right on the Mid-Atlantic ridge. Hot springs, solfataras, fumaroles, and colored soil.
North America
Old Faithful
United States, Wyoming
The most predictable geyser in the world, erupting almost every 91 minutes. The eruption is up to 56 m high.
Norris Geyser Basin
United States
Very interesting and rich geyser field at the site where two fault lines intersect. Here the geysers contain highly acidic water, which is rare in the world. Here is located the tallest active geyser in the world – Steamboat Geyser. It erupts rarely, but then – up to 116 m high. Amazing is the beautiful Echinus Geyser – the largest acid geyser in the world with interesting formations around it.
Midway Geyser Basin
United States
This geothermal area contains such interesting features as Excelsior Geyser – a large pool that a century ago exploded up to 91 m high. Here is also the amazing, colourful Grand Prismatic Spring.
Upper Geyser Basin
United States
One of the largest geyser fields in the world with almost 300 geysers. Here are located some of the iconic geysers in the world – Old Faithful Geyser (32 – 55 m high), Beehive Geyser (45 – 60 m high). Giantess Geyser erupts several times in year up to 60 m high, eruption lasts for 1 – 43 hours.
Lower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone
United States
The second richest geyser area in Yellowstone. Here are such geysers as Great Fountain (up to 67 m tall), Clepsydra, White Dome (geyser with high cone, erupting up to 9.1 m), Fountain.
West Thumb Geyser Basin
United States
This geothermal field contains Fishing Cone – a geyser cone in lake water. One of the amazing geysers here is Overhanging Geyser – located on an overhanging cliff above Yellowstone Lake. It is amazing to imagine how the hot water is accessing this geyser. The geyser field includes also geothermal features under the lake level.
Boiling Lake
Dominica
This geothermal field contains Fishing Cone – a geyser cone in lake water. One of the amazing geysers here is Overhanging Geyser – located on an overhanging cliff above Yellowstone Lake. It is amazing to imagine how the hot water is accessing this geyser. The geyser field includes also geothermal features under the lake level.
Steamboat Geyser
United States, Wyoming
The tallest geyser in the world, erupting up to 90 m high.
Valley of Desolation
Dominica
A spectacular geothermal area with steam vents, fumaroles, hot springs and boiling mud pots.
Cuatro Ciénegas Valley (Cuatro Ciénegas Valley)
Mexico
An unusual part of Chihuahua desert with thousands of geothermal spring pools. Extremely high biodiversity including more than 70 endemic species not found outside this valley. Most unique are stromatolites in spring lakes, endemic plants in gypsum dunes, fishes in lakes.
South America
El Tatio
Chile
A large geyser field with at least 85 active geysers erupting up to 6 m high. The field is especially impressive in the early morning. At least 100 geysers and 30 perpetual spouters have been active here in historical times.
Sol de Mañana
Bolivia
This visually impressive field of sulfur springs contains pools with boiling mud. Some abandoned boreholes emit pressurized steam up to 50 m high.
