Mount Ruapehu, Active stratovolcano in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand.
Mount Ruapehu is a stratovolcano in Tongariro National Park with three summits and a crater lake at 2,797 meters elevation. The mountain forms the highest point on New Zealand's North Island and shows clearly visible signs of volcanic activity.
A lahar from the volcano destroyed the Tangiwai railway bridge on Christmas Eve 1953 and killed 151 people on a moving train. The disaster remains one of the worst rail accidents in the country's history.
The mountain name means „pit of noise
Two ski resorts on the slopes offer winter sports options from June through October for visitors of all experience levels. Access roads are well maintained but require winter equipment during snow conditions.
The mountain carries eighteen glaciers, including New Zealand's only crater glaciers with ice layers reaching 130 meters deep. These ice masses sit directly beside the active volcanic crater and form a rare geological combination.
Location: Ruapehu District
Location: Taupō District
Elevation above the sea: 2,797 m
Address: Mount Ruapehu, Manawatū-Whanganui 3382, New Zealand
GPS coordinates: -39.28120,175.56429
Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:04
This collection brings together active volcanoes located on multiple continents, from Cotopaxi in the Ecuadorian Andes to Mount Fuji in Japan, including Vesuvius in Italy and Mauna Loa in Hawaii. Each site demonstrates different geological processes: stratovolcanoes like Mount Saint Helens and Etna produce explosive eruptions, while Hawaiian shield volcanoes generate flowing lava that can travel long distances. The selection also includes sites that have marked history through their destructive power, such as Krakatoa, whose 1883 eruption caused tens of thousands of casualties, or Vesuvius, which buried Pompeii and Herculaneum in AD 79. Other volcanoes like Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull have recently shown their ability to disrupt human activities globally. These locations offer insight into how volcanic activity shapes landscapes and influences nearby populations.
International ski resorts like Whistler Blackcomb, Niseko, Cortina d'Ampezzo, and Zermatt offer varied terrain. These destinations provide slopes for all levels, Olympic facilities, skiable glaciers, and high-altitude areas. Some resorts are located on volcanoes like Mount Ruapehu, others in mountain ranges such as the Alps, the Rockies, or the Dolomites.
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