Muddy Pools, Sulphur Deposits and "Fart" Holes in Hell's Gate, Rotorua

Hell’s Gate will not be complete without a mention of the Devil. Below photo shows a small crater/pool with the signpost tagging it as "Devil’s Cauldron". What was different about this pool from most others, was that it looked murky, muddy and there was an oily film on the water. My guide said perhaps there is oil in the ground!

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Devil’s Cauldron
Hell’s Gate, Rotorua, May 2006
Below photo shows another larger but similarly murky, muddy and oily pool. Look at the other pool in the background. It is an interesting contrast because you can catch a reflection of the sky, clouds and trees in the water. If you are wondering about the yellow "soil" around this muddy pool, yes, these are sulphur deposits.

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Another larger pool of "hot chocolate"
Hell’s Gate, Rotorua, May 2006
Below, more photos of sulphur deposits. You will find these throughout the landscape of Hell’s Gate. It is all these sulphur fumes emitting from the ground that gives Hell’s Gate and Rotorua their infamous rotten-egg smell! Do you see the hole in the ground (bottom photo)? The sulphur gases would have been released under much pressure to have caused this hole. Another motivation to stay on the pathway is that we can never know when the ground will release these gases suddenly. Imagine what it would be like to be "farted" at close range! ..... Awesome! ;-)

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Sulphur deposits

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Beware of "fart" holes!
Hell’s Gate, Rotorua, May 2006