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Story: Historic volcanic activity

The Tarawera rift

Image
The Tarawera rift

This photograph of Mt Tarawera was taken more than 100 years after it erupted. The rift, formed by explosive eruptions on the night of 10 June 1886, is still the dominating feature. The reddish-brown scoria on the top had been spewed out in just a few hours.

Using this item

GNS Science

Reference: CN19316

by Lloyd Homer

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any 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, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6847/the-tarawera-rift (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney, Carol Stewart and Graham Leonard, published 2 March 2009.