March 7th, 2013 Category: Lakes, Volcanoes

New Zealand – March 6th, 2013

Visible in the center of this image is Lake Taupo, a lake situated in the North Island of New Zealand. Lake Taupo lies in a caldera created by a supervolcanic eruption which occurred approximately 26,500 years ago. With a surface area of 616 square kilometres (238 sq mi), it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand.

Two stratovolcanoes can also be observed: Mount Ruapehu, 40 kilometers southwest of Lake Taupo, and Mount Taranaki, on a peninsula in the lower left quadrant. Mount Ruapehu is one of the world’s most active volcanoes and the largest active volcano in New Zealand, as well as the highest point in the North Island. Mount Taranaki, or Mount Egmont, is an active but quiescent stratovolcano.

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December 12th, 2011 Category: Lakes, Sediments, Volcanoes

New Zealand - November 25th, 2011

The South Taranaki Bight (middle of image) is the name given to the large bay which extends south and east from the south coast of Taranaki in New Zealand’s North Island. The North Taranaki Bight begins to the north of Cape Egmont (upper part of image).

Sediments can be seen lining the shores of both bights, and the active stratovolcano Mount Taranaki/Egmont can be seen on Cape Egmont. Further inland, Lake Taupo can be seen, with the active stratovolcano Mount Ruapehu to the south of it. The volcano is surrounded by a semi-circle of clouds, but is easily identified by its white, snow-capped peak.

Visible to the south, in the lower part of the image, is Tasman Bay, a large V-shaped bay at the north end of New Zealand’s South Island. Located in the centre of the island’s northern coast, it stretches along 120 km of coastline and is 70 km across at its widest point. It is an arm of the Tasman Sea, lying on the western approach to Cook Strait.

At Tasman Bay’s western extremity, the land around the bay is rough and densely forested. To the east, the land is also steep, with the westernmost points of sea-drowned valleys of the Marlborough Sounds. The land between these two extremes is more gently rolling, and also includes the coastal plains around the mouth of the Waimea River at the bay’s southernmost point.

Tags: Cape Egmont Cook Strait Lake Taupo Marlborough Sounds Mount Egmont Mount Ruapehu Mount Taranaki New Zealand North Island North Taranaki Bight South Island South Taranaki Bight Tasman Bay Tasman Sea | Comments |

October 27th, 2011 Category: Lakes, Volcanoes

New Zealand - October 24th, 2011

This image focuses on the North Island of New Zealand. Visible in the upper left corner is Cape Reinga, at the tip of the Aupouri Peninsula, at the northernwestern end of North Island.

Several volcanoes with snow-capped sumits can be observed on the island. Near the center is Mount Ruapehu, an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand, south of Lake Taupo.

To the southwest of Ruapehu, near the coast, is Mount Taranaki, or Mount Egmont, is an active but quiescent stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of North Island. The 2518-metre-high mountain is one of the most symmetrical volcanic cones in the world.

Tags: Aupouri Peninsula Cape Reinga Lake Taupo Mount Egmont Mount Ruapehu Mount Taranaki New Zealand North Island Taupo Volcanic Zone | Comments |

August 10th, 2010 Category: Volcanoes

New Zealand - August 2nd, 2010

Mount Taranaki, or Mount Egmont, is an active but quiescent stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island. The 2518-metre-high mountain is one of the most symmetrical volcanic cones in the world, similar in shape to Mount Fuji in Japan.

Taranaki is considered unusual in that it has experienced at least five of its major eruptions by the method of cone collapse. Few volcanoes have undergone more than one cone collapse. The vast volume of material involved in these collapses is reflected in the extensive ringplain surrounding the volcano. Here, that ringplain appears dark greyish green in color, in contrast to the bright green plains surrounding it.

Tags: Mount Egmont Mount Taranaki New Zealand Volcanoes | Comments |