Mount Tauhara

Mount Tauhara
Mount Tauhara seen from Lake Taupo
Elevation	1,088 m (3,570 ft)
Location
Mount Tauhara North Island, New Zealand
Coordinates	38°41′40″S 176°9′46″E / 38.69444°S 176.16278°E / -38.69444; 176.16278Coordinates: 38°41′40″S 176°9′46″E / 38.69444°S 176.16278°E / -38.69444; 176.16278
Geology
Type	Stratovolcano
Volcanic arc/belt	Taupo Volcanic Zone
Last eruption	Around 63,000 BCE
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike

Mount Tauhara is a dormant stratovolcano, reaching 3,569 feet (1,088 m) above sea level, situated within the Taupō caldera towards the centre of the Taupō Volcanic Zone, which stretches from White Island in the north, to Mount Ruapehu in the south, to Mount Taranaki in the west. ^[1]. It is 6 kilometres (4 mi) east of the town of Taupo, New Zealand, next to the northeastern shore of Lake Taupō.

Formed about 65,000 years ago, Mount Tauhara was not a violently explosive vent, instead slowly oozing a viscous dacitic lava. It is the largest mass of dacite within the Taupō volcano, whose material is 98% rhyolitic^[2]. Little evidence of its volcanic past remains today; the peak is covered in dense native bush.

This is the Māori legend about Mt Tauhara:

The warrior mountains of Taranaki, Pūtauaki, Tongariro and Tauhara were deeply in love with Pīhanga the mountain that stands above Turangi at the southern end of Lake Taupō. A battle erupted to win Pīhanga's favour and the victor was Tongariro. At their defeat, the other mountains decided to leave Tongariro's domain, travelling as far away as they could in the course of one night. Taranaki fled west towards the setting sun, and Pūtauaki and Tauhara fled north towards the sunrise. Pūtauaki moved fast and is now located near Whakatane and is also known as Mt Edgecumbe. But Tauhara was sad and with a heavy heart he traveled reluctantly. When overtaken by dawn he had only reached the north eastern shore of Lake Taupō. Here he stands to this day looking mournfully across the lake towards his lost love, Pīhanga ^[3].

Tauhara is the point to which Ngātoroirangi, the high priest of Te Arawa canoe, and ariki-ancestor of Tūwharetoa, climbed when he first came to the region seeking lands for his followers ^[4].

There is a steep walking track to the top of Mount Tauhara, starting at Mountain Road. On a clear day, the summit offers excellent views over the Volcanic Plateau, encompassing the entirety of Lake Taupo in the southeast.

"Tauhara" is Māori for "alone, or isolated"^[5].

references

1. ^ Matt McGlone. 'Ecoregions', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 21-Sep-2007
2. ^ Volcanic Hazards Working Group of the Civil Defence Scientific Advisory Committee, which includes scientists from the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences and the Universities, Number seven "Taupō Volcanic Centre"
3. ^ Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal. 'Whenua – how the land was shaped', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 5-Nov-2007
4. ^ Grace, J. Te Herekiekie, (1959, reprinted 1992). "Tūwharetoa ; A history of the Māori people of the Taupō district". Reed; Auckland, Singapore.
5. ^ Reed, A.W. (1975). "Place names of New Zealand". A.H. & A.W. Reed; Wellington, Sydney, London.

external links

• Te Ara Encyclopaedia of New Zealand website
• Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences website

See also

• List of volcanoes in New Zealand
• Tauhara
• Ngāti Tūwharetoa