Story: Historic volcanic activity

Lake Rotomahana and the White Terrace

Lake Rotomahana and the White Terrace

This 1886 photograph of Lake Rotomahana and the White Terrace (centre left) is part of a panorama taken before the Tarawera eruption that year. Mt Tarawera is in the background. Although the Kaharoa eruption had spread ash over the area about 570 years earlier, no one at the time this photo was taken was aware that Tarawera was an active volcano and about to erupt again.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: C.010657
Photograph by Burton Brothers

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney, Carol Stewart and Graham Leonard, 'Historic volcanic activity - Tarawera', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6839/lake-rotomahana-and-the-white-terrace (accessed 2 June 2023)

Story by Eileen McSaveney, Carol Stewart and Graham Leonard, published 12 Jun 2006