North Island (Te Ika A Maui)
Craters of the Moon Scenic Reserve 2
(or how the ground you walk upon can be a mite shaky)
All sorts of holes appear along the sides of the pathway with white
and pink volcanic pumice rock forming at the surface. There are
a couple of large, make that giant holes, one at least 100 ft. across
and about 70 ft. deep. It has its own viewing platform( see below).
There are wooden pathways to walk on as the ground on either side
can give way under your weight and each year, many visitors end
up with 2nd and 3rd degree burns to their feet after straying from
the pathways. I ran into a family of four who were standing inches
from the edge of a mud hole off the pathway. I listened to them
speaking and recognised the German language. Enough said, I got
as far away from them as posible, so I couldn't hear them screaming
when their wee ankles caught fire.
The pressure steam vents you can hear before you see them and
tiny holes open up all around you.
Some of the earlier wooden pathways have become closed due
to the ground becoming unstable beneath them.
© Paul Griffin, 2000
