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Story: Life in hot springs

Fibrous silica from Wairākei

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Fibrous silica from Wairākei

This underwater photograph, taken in the waste-water drain at the Wairākei geothermal power station, shows thick growths of fibrous silica in the 60°C water. The shape of these growths is due to long filamentous bacteria.

Using this item

GNS Science, Extremophile Photo Collection

Reference: DCP_1594

by Duncan Graham

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Bruce Mountain, Life in hot springs – Thermophiles, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6455/fibrous-silica-from-wairakei (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Bruce Mountain, published 2 March 2009.