NZ Volcanic Activity - Rotorua Taupo area

This is a pic of White Island which lies about 48k offshore in the Bay of Plenty.

About 70 percent of the volcano is under the sea, making this massive volcanic structure the largest in New Zealand.

A sulphur mining venture began on the island in 1885; this was stopped abruptly in 1914 when part of the crater wall collapsed and a landslide destroyed the sulphur mine and miners' village; twelve lives were lost. The remains of buildings from that era are now a tourist attraction.

Although privately owned, White Island became a private scenic reserve in 1953, and daily tours allow more than 10,000 people to visit White Island every year.

Volcanic activity on the Island is constantly monitored by Geonet. They have two cameras set up which relay images and take seismic readings.

The most recent eruption was March to September 2000. Early in March a new vent developed and began to emit ash. An eruption occurred late in July which covered the crater area in scoria, also displacing the main crater lake and forming a new explosion crater 150 m across.

The map shows the Taupo Rotorua Volcanic zone and the areas of Thermal activity.

The whole area is also prone to earthquakes.

Sometimes I feel that we are living on an eggshell!!