Māngere Mountain, Volcanic summit in Auckland, New Zealand.
Māngere Mountain is a volcanic cone in Auckland that rises 106 meters, featuring two prominent craters with a lava dome centered between them. Well-maintained tracks loop around and across the summit, giving walkers views of the Manukau Harbour and the city skyline.
The volcano erupted roughly 70,000 years ago, sending lava flows that reached the Manukau Harbour and shaped the landscape around it. Over time, the Waiohua people recognized its strategic location and established their settlement on the high ground.
The mountain held deep meaning for the Waiohua people as a fortified settlement where they organized their community and daily life. You can still sense the layers of habitation when you walk across the summit.
Several walking tracks of varying difficulty loop around and across the summit, so you can choose your route based on your fitness level. Wear good shoes since the ground is volcanic rock that can be slippery in wet conditions.
What sets this volcano apart is its unusual geological form: a wide crater with a centered lava dome rising inside it. This rare combination of features resulted from the specific way the eruption unfolded thousands of years ago.
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