SOUTH CRATER

Stitched Panorama

In the main South Crater area, which is quite old, there are grasses slowly establishing themselves on the lava, with the very occasional flower bringing life to a barren landscape – it reminded me of Antarctica, where there is just rock, ice and snow.

red crater (2) (Small)

But one of the interesting things was the different types of rock on the ground – some lava, some dense and heavy, some shiny and flat – all showing a record of the activity this area has been subject to.

red crater (4) (Small) red crater (Small)

The main flat area is of sand, but to emphasise the activity beneath it, clouds of steam come off at intervals.

red crater (1) (Small)

Off to one side is a lake – nearly dry now but filling in winter – whose colour comes from dissolved minerals. In other parts of the crater complex is a blue and a green lake, again their colours are from the minerals in the water.

red crater Naughaoe (Small)

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