This view, looking along the rift formed by the 1886 eruption, illustrates the changing nature of volcanism on Mt Tarawera. The mountain consists of several light-coloured rhyolite domes that were erupted at about 1314 AD. In contrast, basalt was erupted in 1886 and contact with groundwater caused a highly explosive eruption. The dark reddish-brown material close to the ground surface is 1886 scoria, and the underlying light-coloured layers are older rhyolitic tephra layers.

In the background is the andesite core volcano of Mt Edgecumbe (Pūtauaki). It last erupted about 3,200 years ago.