Mount Tarawera

Mount Tarawera
Fissure formed during the 1886 eruption
Highest point
Elevation	1,111[1] m (3,645 ft)
Coordinates	38°13′00″S 176°31′00″E / 38.21667°S 176.51667°E / -38.21667; 176.51667
Geography
Mount Tarawera North Island, New Zealand Show map of New Zealand Mount Tarawera Mount Tarawera (North Island) Show map of North Island
Geology
Age of rock	21,900 years
Mountain type	Lava dome with fissure vent
Volcanic arc/belt	Taupō Volcanic Zone
Last eruption	May 1981 (Waimangu) June 1951 (Rotomahana) June to August 1886 (Tarawera)

Mount Tarawera is a volcano on the North Island of New Zealand within the older but volcanically productive Ōkataina Caldera. Located 24 kilometres southeast of Rotorua, it consists of a series of rhyolitic lava domes that were fissured down the middle by an explosive basaltic eruption in 1886. While the 1886 eruption was basaltic, study has shown there was only a small basalt component to the previous recent rhyolitic predominant eruptions.^[2] This eruption was one of New Zealand's largest historical eruptions, and killed an estimated 120 people. The fissures run for about 17 kilometres (11 mi) northeast–southwest.

The volcano's component domes include Ruawahia Dome (the highest at 1,111 metres), Tarawera Dome and Wahanga Dome. It is surrounded by several lakes, most of which were created or drastically altered by the 1886 eruption. These include Lakes Tarawera, Rotomahana, Rerewhakaaitu, Ōkataina, Ōkareka, Tikitapu / Blue and Rotokākahi / Green. The Tarawera River runs northeastwards across the northern flank of the mountain from Lake Tarawera.

In 2000, the mountain was ceded to the Ngāti Rangitihi sub-tribe of Te Arawa. In 2002, the group and their lessee stopped previously free public access to the mountain. This decision caused angst among Rotorua residents.^[3]