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Story: Life in hot springs

Sinter growth covering vegetation

Sinter growth covering vegetation

When hot geothermal water reaches the surface, it cools rapidly and deposits dissolved silica as sinter. This fine-grained silica will coat any surface, and is shown here growing over vegetation at Waimangu, south of Rotorua. If these deposits continue for several years, a sinter terrace will gradually build up.

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Private collection
Photograph by Simon Nathan

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How to cite this page:

Bruce Mountain. 'Life in hot springs', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 2-Mar-09
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/life-in-hot-springs/4/3