New Zealand's landmark Pohutu Geyser has been putting on a spectacular show of 70-foot-high eruptions of steam and water nonstop for 40 days. A similar performance has not been seen for more than 60 years.

The 1000-year-old geyser has been a tourist destination since the early 1800s, but travelers have often left the Whakarewarewa thermal reserve in New Zealand's North Island disappointed after not having seen an eruption.

Tourists who were impatient with the fickle geyser would illegally throw soap shavings into Pohutu, thinking that a film over the water inside would cause it to boil and erupt.

Ashley Cody, a Rotorua geologist, speculated that the recent surge in activity was triggered by an increased level of geothermal waters below Rotorua caused by the closing of all nearby mining bores. The government began closing the bores in 1986 when there was a dramatic drop in water levels and a cooling of the water. Cody said, "It's fantastic to see the geyser back up to its old levels. It's wonderful for tourists and there's no reason it shouldn't keep this up indefinitely."

Bubbles Mihinui, who lived in Whakarewarewa Village in 1936 and saw the last similar eruption, said, "It's just spectacular. Pohutu is a very spiritual geyser and it's remarkable to see it so strong again."