1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera

Eruption of Mount Tarawera

Mount Tarawera in Eruption by Charles Blomfield
Volcano Mount Tarawera
Date June 10 1886
Time 2 a.m.
Type Plinian, Peléan
Location North Island, New Zealand
38°13′0″S 176°31′0″E / 38.21667°S 176.51667°E / -38.21667; 176.51667
VEI 5
Impact 120-150 people killed, Pink and White Terraces destroyed
Te Wairoa, "The Buried Village"

The most recent eruption of Mount Tarawera occurred in the early hours of June 10 1886 in the North Island, New Zealand. It is the deadliest eruption in New Zealand since the arrival of Europeans. Up to 150 people, mostly Māori, were killed, and many settlements were destroyed or buried by the eruption of Mount Tarawera.[1]

Eruption

Shortly after midnight on Thursday, June 10 1886, a series of increasingly violent earthquakes struck North Island, New Zealand.[2] Beginning at 2 a.m., the three peaks of Mount Tarawera erupted, spewing molten rock, and columns of smoke and ash up to 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) into the air. The eruption was heard as far as Blenheim. Earthquakes and lightning occurred at the same time.[3]

Effects

The eruption split the mountain and created the Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley, which lies at the south-western end of the 17 kilometres (11 mi) rift created on 10 June 1886. The famed Pink and White Terraces, natural wonders of New Zealand, were destroyed.

The land was covered with millions of tonnes of volcanic ash, mud and debris on average 20 metres (66 ft) thick.[4]

The Māori settlements of Moura, Te Ariki, Te Tapahoro, Te Wairoa, Totarariki, and Waingongogo were buried or destroyed. The official death toll was reported as 150, and many more were displaced, making the eruption the most deadly in New Zealand history.[5]

Te Wairoa is now a tourist attraction called "The Buried Village". Many people survived by sheltering in Te Wairoa's stronger buildings.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Eruption of Mt Tarawera". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "On this day: Tarawera volcanic eruption in 1886". New Zealand Earthquake Commission. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "Mt Tarawera eruption 125th anniversary". Department of Conservation, Government of New Zealand.
  4. ↑ "Waimangu: Geology". GNS Science. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Okataina Volcanic Centre". New Zealand GeoNet. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
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