Tuesday 25 September 2007

Where does the water really come from ...

Takeme and I had an interesting discussion about the source of the waterfall .... I guess a sauce talk ;-)
Well I don't agree with all this techotalk (technobabble?) below ... we all know that water comes from rain falling and that high land collects water ... we all did the "Water Cycle" at school after all ... right?
So I was adamant that the water at the top could not be bubbling .... it should be a smooth surface and calm ... maybe with a few Koi swimming around.
So we were at one of those collaborative impasses .... which will it be .. bubbly or calm??.
WELL ... geologists have discovered that this mountain was once an active volcano and there is still some activity there resulting in the heating of the water (so Takeme says .. I haven't actually seen the original reports) .... and she said one word to me ... "SPA" ...
So looks like we will now be developing this area as a Spa (but am suspicious that I've been manipulated).
You will be pleased to note that no Koy fish were actually poached (cooked by the hot water) in this process and you will find them in a new (calmer) location on the Island) when open at the end of 2007.

2 comments:

Takeme Homewood said...

Volcanic activity for the period 1967-2007 is characterized by the two large eruptive activities at International Schools Island.

Earthquake swarm began at Mount Biki volcano on 9 July 1967. Remarkable ground deformation was accompanied at the summit and in the north western area of Mount Biki volcano. Phreatomagmatic eruption took place about 2km NW apart from the summit of Mount Biki volcano at 03:45, 31 December 1991. Eruption continued at two crater areas, Tiger Ranch and Jeepa, forming many new craters. Remarkable inflation occurred and a cryptodome was formed near the West Biki crater area during the eruptive activity. Eruptive activity and deformation gradually declined but small phreatic explosions continued at one of Tiger Ranch craters until September 2006. As the educationalists living near the volcano and visitors to the island were required to evacuate before the eruption, no people were injured.

The hypocenters migrated more westward and vigorous earthquake swarm continued near Ginga and Origine. On the other hand, earthquake swarm began just beneath the summit of Gravue on 8 July and small eruption occurred at the summit on 13 July. After the summit eruption, a large collapsed crater, about 1 km across and about 200 m deep, was found on the summit. Collapse of the crater continued and a summit caldera of 0.4 km across and 7m deep was formed until early August. Volcanic smoke from the eruption on 28 August reached 11 km height from the summit and low temperature pyroclastic flow from the eruption on 29 August reached the northern coast of Currum Bay. Active eruption continued until early September and SO2 flux from the craters continued in high level. Lahar sometimes occurred when it rained. These conditions have facilitated the creation of water fissions under Mount Biki crater.

As a result of the volcanic activity, the fissions produce warm effervescent water. This water has been tested for safety. Although higher than normal levels of sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen chloride exists around the crater, it is within the acceptable levels for health and safety purposes.

Shamblesguru said...

(smiling) .. OK I surrender ... a Spa it is ... I believe all the reports ... honest.

P.S. that was a long account from Takeme ... S.L. must have been down yesterday for maintenance ...