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Story: Life in hot springs

Acid hot spring, Rotokawa

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Acid hot spring, Rotokawa

This hot spring at Rotokawa, near Taupō, is highly acidic. In the past it was assumed that nothing could survive there, but it is now known that such an environment is home to distinctive microbial life.

Using this item

GNS Science, Extremophile Photo Collection

Reference: DCP_0916

by Bruce Mountain

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 – Extremophiles, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6450/acid-hot-spring-rotokawa (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Bruce Mountain, published 2 March 2009.