NEW POWER LAKE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29421, 25 January 1961, Page 12

NEW POWER LAKE

Geyser Erupts In Flooding tN Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, January 24. Rocks and debris were thrown over a wide area when a geyser erupted 140 feet into the air at Orakei-korako this morning as it was being menaced by flooding with the formation of Lake Ohakuri. Known as the Gfeat Orakeikorako geyser, it showed signs of increased activity on Monday night. About 9 am. today the geyser suddenly erupted once more. Technicians from the D.1.5.R., who were camped nearby, rushed over and measured the height of the geyser as at least 140 ft, and possibly more at times. Broken bottles, large rocks, old tins and a 10ft length of rubber hose were flung about the area. Four shillings worth of coins, thrown into the geyser i>y tourists, were found scattered nearby after the eruption. A few minutes after the geyser subsided the technicians noticed that steam was issuing strongly from cracks in the ground about 30 yards away. Before the eruption there had been no thermal activity there. As the water lapped the edge of the geyser, about an hour later, it became active once again, but did not play to its previous height. Lake Ohakpri had risen 81ft above the former river level today. Flooding at a rate of six feet every 24 hours, the 3400-acre lake has to rise another 34ft to its mean operating level. Water is expected to begin covering farmland in the Whirinaki Valley tomorrow or early Thursday and will also advance higher up the Orakeikorako thermal area.