Mount Ruapehu
Mount Ruapehu (/ˈruːəˌpeɪhuː/; Māori: [ˈɾʉaˌpɛhʉ]) is an active stratovolcano at the southern end of the Taupō Volcanic Zone and North Island volcanic plateau in New Zealand. It is 23 km (14 mi) northeast of Ohakune and 23 km (14 mi) southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupō, within the Tongariro National Park. The North Island's major ski resorts and only glaciers are on its slopes.
| Mount Ruapehu | |
|---|---|
Mt Ruapehu from Tongariro Northern Circuit, 2015 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,797 m (9,177 ft) |
| Prominence | 2,797 m (9,177 ft) |
| Isolation | 340.67 km (211.68 mi) |
| Listing | Ultra New Zealand #19 |
| Coordinates | 39°17′S 175°34′E |
| Naming | |
| Native name | ˈɾʉaˌpɛhʉ (Māori) |
| English translation | pit of noise or exploding pit |
| Geography | |
Mount Ruapehu | |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | ~200,000 years |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Volcanic arc/belt | Taupō Volcanic Zone |
| Last eruption | 25 September 2007 |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1879 by G. Beetham and J. P. Maxwell (non-indigenous) |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Ruapehu, the largest active volcano in New Zealand, has the highest point in the North Island and has three major peaks: Tahurangi (2,797 m), Te Heuheu (2,755 m) and Paretetaitonga (2,751 m). The deep, active crater is between the peaks and fills with water between major eruptions, being known as Crater Lake (Māori: Te Wai ā-moe). The name Ruapehu means "pit of noise" or "exploding pit" in Māori.