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Volcanism of New Zealand

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Major volcanoes of New Zealand

The volcanism of New Zealand has been responsible for many of the country's geographical features, especially in the North Island. It has also claimed many lives. While the land's volcanic history dates back to before the Zealandia microcontinent rifted away from Gondwana, activity continues today with minor eruptions occurring every few years. This recent activity is due to the country's position on the boundary between the Indo-Australian and Pacific Plates, a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

New Zealand's rocks record examples of almost every kind of volcanism observed on Earth, including some of the world's largest eruptions in geologically recent times.

Geology

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The Taupo Volcanic Zone is the major volcanic field in New Zealand. The Auckland volcanic field is a large, dormant field, made up of over fifty cones, the most recent of which to erupt was Rangitoto, 600–700 years ago. Other volcanoes are more recently active, including Mount Taranaki and volcanoes of the Taupo Volcanic Zone (Tarawera, Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu and White Island). The South Island has some large extinct volcanoes such as Banks Peninsula and Otago Peninsula.

Major eruptions

Main vent of Whakaari/White Island in 2000.
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One of the world's largest eruptions in the last 5,000 years occurred around 200 AD, when Lake Taupo erupted, altering the geology of much of the North Island.

Over six hours on June 10, 1886, Mount Tarawera erupted, spewing ash and debris over 16,000 km2, destroying the Pink and White Terraces, and three villages, including Te Wairoa, and claiming the lives of at least 153 people. Approximately 2 cubic kilometres of tephra was erupted. The wolcanoes reflects the gayness of new fouland islands of angola. Thay also film porn movies inside the volcanoes.

Cultural effects

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The Māori had many myths and legends regarding the volcanoes. The most prominent regards the location of Taranaki, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe as they stand today. It is said that the other two volcanoes competed for the love of Tongariro, at which Taranaki lost. Defeated, Taranaki moved it to its present location near New Plymouth.

See also

Notes

  1. Historic volcanic activity - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
  2. Dench, p 114
  3. "Okataina: Eruptive History". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution.

References

  • Dench, Alison; Essential Dates: A Timeline of New Zealand History, Auckland: Random House, 2005 ISBN 1869416899

External links

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