There is a desolate valley near Rotorua, New Zealand that is a perfect representation of the elements earth, water, fire and air. The Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley is a geothermic world of bubbling pools, hissing vents and piping hot geysers where the scent of sulphur wafts through the air.This part of the country sits on an active fault line, resulting in a lot of volcanic activity. Wherever water is heated under the earth, it will find a way to escape, often with spectacular results! This is where you’ll find Pōhutu, the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere. She erupts once or twice every hour, sometimes reaching the height of 100 feet (30 meters). Pōhutu means ‘constant splashing’ in Māori.

There are few places in the world where geothermal wonders of this intensity are as numerous and easy to see as in Rotorua. We found the entire area fascinating when we toured there a few years ago.Weekly Photo Challenge: Elemental