34 



a considerable amount of ice on the outer slopes, which is organized 

 in places into definite glaciers. 



About ten miles north-east of Ruapehu lies the beautiful sugarloaf 

 cone of Ngauruhoe (7,515 ft.), which is separated from it by a distinct 

 and low saddle in fact, there is no apparent geographical connection 

 between the two mountains. The last-named cone is always more 

 or less active, ?nd on numerous occasions, notably in 1909, it has 

 discharged ashes over the surrounding country, and lava has been 

 reported as occurring in the throat of the crater. The last discharge 

 of lava may have occurred as late as 1869, when there was a some- 

 what severe eruption, but doubt has been cast on this statement. 

 The crater is continually altering in form as a result of the constantly 

 recurring periods of activity. Steam and sulphurous gases frequently 

 form clouds which envelop the cone, and should be avoided, if possible, 

 by persons making the ascent. 



About two miles farther on in linear sequence lies Tongariro 

 (6,458ft.), a somewhat shapeless mass, which is apparently the base 

 of a volcano, analogous in bulk to Ruapehu, whose top has been 

 destroyed by a paroxysmal explosion. On the irregular summit thus 

 left, and on a line with both Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe, lie two active 

 points, the Red Crater and Te Mari (5,641 ft.). Ngauruhoe may be 

 regarded as belonging to the same series, for it is apparently a point 

 of activity located on the truncated summit of a greater Tongariro, 

 and is really a secondary cone. The Red Crater has within recent 

 geological times discharged lava, ash, and mud. The crater has been 

 breached by a lava-flow which has run down into another of the 

 crateral hollows on the top of Tongariro. Te Mari has at times been 

 quite active, and has thrown ashes as far as the northern shore 

 of Lake Taupo. At the present time it is discharging steam and 

 sulphurous gases. 



Between these two active centres lies an extinct crater now 

 occupied by the Blue Lake (5, 570 ft.), one of the most picturesque 

 and weird spots on the top of the mountain. Both on and off the 

 line of active vents are others which were formerly of importance, 

 though some of the craters, such as the Oturere Crater, may have been 

 areas of collapse rather than of extrusion. On the northern side of 

 the mountain facing Lake Roto-aira are the Ketetahi Hot Springs, 

 noted for their thermal activity. 



There are one or two other points on the Park which present 

 features of interest, notably the lakes on the saddle between Ruapehu 

 and Ngauruhoe, called Nga Puna a Tama, which occupy the sites 

 of small explosion-craters ; while to the west of Ruapehu lies the 

 buttress of Hauhangatahi (4,983 ft.), volcanic in origin, and evidently 

 belonging to the Ruapehu series, judging from the similarity in the 

 nature of their lavas. On the eastern flank of the mountain lies the 

 Rangipo Desert perhaps the only true desert in New Zealand 

 formed of scoria and ash washed from the upper slopes of the volcano, 

 with masses of lava rising at intervals through the loose debris. 



The line of volcanic vents continues north-east beyond the limits 

 of the Park, through Pihama, south of Lake Taupo ; through Taupo 

 itself, where the Island of Motukaiko and its outlying reefs give 

 evidence of volcanic activity, to Tauhara, near the north-east corner 



