CROW'S NEST GEYSER ACTIVE AGAIN

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 91, 16 October 1953, Page 5

CROW'S NEST GEYSER ACTIVE AGAIN

The Crow's Nest Geyser, on the banks of the Waikato River near the Spa Hotel, Taupo, has resumed its spectacular playing after a dormant period of nine or ten years. The Geyser became dormant about the time the river bed was deepened, in connction with the construction of the dam at Taupo for control of the Lake for hydroelectric purposes, presumably because this had the effect of lowring the river level. On Sunday, October 3rd, as a resuit of Work carried out by Mr E. Lloyd, assisted by Mr C. Burt and Mr G. Briggs, the geyser resumed its eruptions. Although there was no guarantee that the work would prove effective, it was designed to initiate an overflow of water from the vent of the geyser. This is one of the first essentials of geyser action, but it is still not certain that the geyser will continue to play when the River is lower than at present. The work done consisted in constructing an outlet from the vent of the geyser some two feet lower than the existing outlet. At present the Crow's Nest is erupting at perioas varying from 2i to 5 hours. These eruptions are composed of a succession of shots, the lirst of which rises to a height of one hundred feet, the following shots, over a period of up to three quarters of an hour, rising to heights of from twenty to fifty feet. One eruption, seen on Thursday, October 8th, consisted of no less than twenty-nine shots in a period of forty-five minutes. In the same few chains of riverbank are the Eunice and Waipikirangi Geysers, the former erupting at short intervals and sending shots to heights of up to 30 fe.et. Older residents will recall picnic and fishing visits to the area, of which the chance of seeing the Crow's Nest play was a high-light. The renewed activity ; should prove of great interest to both residents and visitors. ♦