Minerva Spring Impression by Christiane Schulze

About "Minerva Spring Impression"

by Christiane Schulze

About the artwork

Copyright: Christiane Schulze Hot springs cause warm water of about 70 °C[2] to glide over the terraces. The water contains above-average amounts of lime and minerals, which precipitate at the spring outlet and are deposited in the form of terraces. The arrangement of the terraces depends both on the type of deposits and on the growth rate of the minerals, as well as on the flow direction and water turbulence. Algae and bacteria settle in the resulting shallow pools; these have different colours depending on the temperature of the water. Due to the ever-changing deposits, the direction of flow of the water and thus the temperature and thus the colours - from white to blue, brown, green, yellow, orange or red - of the terraces change from year to year. Sinter terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs The water flows down from the surrounding slopes, is heated underground by volcanic activity and springs to the surface at Mammoth Hot Springs. Sulphurous gases often escape in the process. The water flow has leveled off at about 500 gallons (about 1900 litres) per minute. At the bottom, the water seeps away. Visitors are guided through the terraces on wooden walkways, as the ground is not accessible everywhere and in order not to endanger the terraces. The terraces began to form millions of years ago. Today, the water deposits up to two tonnes of limestone per day. Minerva Spring is a favourite not o