Hauhungatahi
Encyclopedia
Hauhungatahi is an eroded volcano
at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone
in New Zealand
, located about 11 km (7 mi) WNW of Mount Ruapehu
. Although relatively little-known, at 1521 m (4,990 ft) Hauhungatahi is one of the highest volcanoes in New Zealand, exceeded in elevation
by only Ruapehu, Taranaki/Egmont (including Fanthams Peak), and the Tongariro massif
(including Ngauruhoe
). The volcano is constructed atop an upfaulted block of Mesozoic
marine sediments. The age of the erupted andesite
lava is about 900,000 years, making Hauhungatahi more than three times as old as the neighboring Ruapehu.
The volcano is located in the western part of Tongariro National Park
. The terrain surrounding Hauhungatahi and covering an area of 8498 hectare has been managed as a Wilderness Area since 1966, one of two such officially-designated areas within the park.
The standard ascent route on Hauhungatahi is a tramp
from the west side starting near Erua, following remnants of an old track
in places, and bush-bashing through several overgrown and bog
gy areas to reach the bush line near 1200 m (3,937 ft) on the summit plateau. Slightly easier travel continues eastward to the true summit, which provides panoramic views of neighboring peaks throughout the park including Ruapehu
, Ngauruhoe
, and Tongariro
.
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone
Taupo Volcanic Zone
The Taupo Volcanic Zone is a highly active volcanic V shaped area in the North Island of New Zealand that is spreading east -west at the rate of about 8mm per year...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, located about 11 km (7 mi) WNW of Mount Ruapehu
Mount Ruapehu
Mount Ruapehu, or just Ruapehu, is an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand. It is 23 kilometres northeast of Ohakune and 40 kilometres southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupo, within Tongariro National Park...
. Although relatively little-known, at 1521 m (4,990 ft) Hauhungatahi is one of the highest volcanoes in New Zealand, exceeded in elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
by only Ruapehu, Taranaki/Egmont (including Fanthams Peak), and the Tongariro massif
Mount Tongariro
Mount Tongariro is a volcanic complex in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres to the southwest of Lake Taupo, and is the northernmost of the three active volcanoes that dominate the landscape of the central North Island....
(including Ngauruhoe
Mount Ngauruhoe
Mount Ngauruhoe is an active stratovolcano or composite cone in New Zealand, made from layers of lava and tephra. It is the youngest vent in the Tongariro volcanic complex on the Central Plateau of the North Island, and first erupted about 2,500 years ago...
). The volcano is constructed atop an upfaulted block of Mesozoic
Mesozoic
The Mesozoic era is an interval of geological time from about 250 million years ago to about 65 million years ago. It is often referred to as the age of reptiles because reptiles, namely dinosaurs, were the dominant terrestrial and marine vertebrates of the time...
marine sediments. The age of the erupted andesite
Andesite
Andesite is an extrusive igneous, volcanic rock, of intermediate composition, with aphanitic to porphyritic texture. In a general sense, it is the intermediate type between basalt and dacite. The mineral assemblage is typically dominated by plagioclase plus pyroxene and/or hornblende. Magnetite,...
lava is about 900,000 years, making Hauhungatahi more than three times as old as the neighboring Ruapehu.
The volcano is located in the western part of Tongariro National Park
Tongariro National Park
Tongariro National Park is the oldest national park in New Zealand, located in the central North Island. It has been acknowledged by UNESCO as one of the 28 mixed cultural and natural World Heritage Sites....
. The terrain surrounding Hauhungatahi and covering an area of 8498 hectare has been managed as a Wilderness Area since 1966, one of two such officially-designated areas within the park.
The standard ascent route on Hauhungatahi is a tramp
Tramping in New Zealand
Tramping, known elsewhere as hiking or bushwalking, is a popular activity in New Zealand.Tramping is defined as a recreational activity involving walking over rough country carrying all the required food and equipment...
from the west side starting near Erua, following remnants of an old track
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
in places, and bush-bashing through several overgrown and bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
gy areas to reach the bush line near 1200 m (3,937 ft) on the summit plateau. Slightly easier travel continues eastward to the true summit, which provides panoramic views of neighboring peaks throughout the park including Ruapehu
Mount Ruapehu
Mount Ruapehu, or just Ruapehu, is an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in New Zealand. It is 23 kilometres northeast of Ohakune and 40 kilometres southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupo, within Tongariro National Park...
, Ngauruhoe
Mount Ngauruhoe
Mount Ngauruhoe is an active stratovolcano or composite cone in New Zealand, made from layers of lava and tephra. It is the youngest vent in the Tongariro volcanic complex on the Central Plateau of the North Island, and first erupted about 2,500 years ago...
, and Tongariro
Mount Tongariro
Mount Tongariro is a volcanic complex in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres to the southwest of Lake Taupo, and is the northernmost of the three active volcanoes that dominate the landscape of the central North Island....
.
See also
- List of volcanoes in New Zealand
- List of mountains of New Zealand by height
- Volcanism in New ZealandVolcanism in New ZealandThe volcanism of New Zealand has been responsible for many of the country's geographical features, especially in the North Island and the country's outlying islands...