Explosive History (Eruptions & Disasters)
On Christmas Eve in 1954, a natural lahar destroyed the Tangiwai railway bridge, resulting in New Zealand’s worst rail disaster.
What was the 1953 Tangiwai disaster? (Note: The lahar occurred Dec 24, 1953)
This famous 19.4-kilometer single-day trek takes visitors past Mt Ngauruhoe, Emerald Lakes, and Blue Lake.
What is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing?
Mt Ruapehu is unique in the North Island because it holds the island's only remaining ones of these frozen features.
What are glaciers?
This dark, viscous lava type with a moderate silica content builds the steep-sided stratovolcanoes of the TVC.
What is andesite?
The central alignment of the TVC volcanoes (Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, Tongariro) runs predominantly in this compass direction.
What is South-West to North-East?
In August and November of 2012, this northern vent area of Mt Tongariro unexpectedly erupted, spreading ash across the North Island.
What are the Te Maari Craters?
Located on the north-western slopes of Mt Ruapehu, this is the largest commercial ski field in New Zealand.
What is Whakapapa Ski Field?
Steeps-sided, steep-bottomed valleys created by advancing alpine glaciers take this characteristic alphabet shape.
What are U-shaped valleys?
Airborne volcanic material thrown into the atmosphere during an eruption, ranging from fine ash to large rocks, is known collectively as this.
What is tephra (or pyroclastic material)?
Tongariro National Park was established as New Zealand's first national park and this rank globally.
What is fourth (4th)?
During major eruptions in 1995 and 1996, this body of water on Mt Ruapehu completely disappeared before refilling over several years.
What is the Crater Lake?
In 1993, Tongariro National Park became the first site in the world to gain UNESCO World Heritage status under this specific category.
What is a Cultural Landscape?
Piles of unsorted rock debris deposited along the edges or terminus of retreating glaciers are known by this term.
What are moraines?
Light, porous volcanic rock ejected during explosive rhyolitic eruptions that covers large parts of the TVC soil layer.
What is pumice?
The approximate annual number of tourists and recreationists visiting Tongariro National Park each year.
What is 1 million?
Around AD 186, an ultra-plinian eruption from this massive caldera volcano destroyed large swathes of native forest across the region.
What is Lake Taupō?
This small, club-operated ski area sits on the lesser-visited eastern side of Mt Ruapehu.
What is Tukino Ski Field?
This summit peak on Mt Ruapehu reaches 2,797 meters, making it the highest single point on the mountain massif.
What is Tahurangi?
Young, poorly developed soils formed directly from recent volcanic ash deposits are classified as this soil type.
What are recent volcanic ash soils?
High-elevation alpine zones in the TVC receive an enormous annual precipitation amount exceeding this many millimeters.
What is 3,500 mm?
To prevent future Tangiwai-style catastrophes, scientists installed this automated monitoring and early warning system on Mt Ruapehu.
What is ERLAWS (Eastern Ruapehu Lahar Alarm and Warning System)?
Located on the south-western slopes, this commercial ski field features the highest lifted elevation in New Zealand.
What is Tūroa Ski Field?
These thermal vents on the northern slopes of Tongariro release steam and gases and feed into local mineral springs.
What are fumaroles (or Ketetahi Springs)?
Formed under cooler, wet forest environments on older volcanic debris, these acidic, highly leached soils dominate low slopes.
What are podzols (or podzolic soils)?
Mt Ngauruhoe's age is estimated to be approximately this many years old, making it remarkably young in geological time.
What is 7,000 years?