Auckland volcanic field, Monogenetic volcanic field in Auckland, New Zealand.
The Auckland volcanic field is a monogenetic volcanic zone in Auckland, New Zealand, with 53 individual centers scattered across a wide urban area. Craters, cones, and cooled lava flows shape the relief and form prominent hills amid the buildings.
Activity began around 250,000 years ago and brought forth new volcanoes over many millennia. Rangitoto Island formed through the most recent eruption around six centuries ago and has shaped the bay skyline ever since.
Several cones carry names from the Māori language and show their long connection to the region. Visitors can see traces of former fortified settlements on the elevated sites.
Walking trails lead up many cones and offer different difficulty levels for all visitor groups. Public transport connects several sites, and paths are often well signposted.
Sensors throughout the city measure seismic movements around the clock and send data to monitoring centers. This system was developed to detect early signs of new activity and protect the population.
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