Story: Volcanoes

Raoul Island map, 1855

This map of Raoul Island was prepared after the visit of HMS Herald in 1854. The island is a complex volcano with calderas in the centre (Raoul caldera) and at Denham Bay (to the left). Eruptions in 1814 and 1870 led to the formation of scoria cones in Denham Bay, rapidly destroyed by waves. There were also explosive eruptions within Raoul caldera in 1814, 1870, 1964 and 2006. The small cone in the centre of the lake was partly destroyed by eruptions in 1870, and was the site of later eruptions in 1964 and 2006.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: MapColl 949.2aj/1863/Acc. 7744

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Richard Smith, David J. Lowe and Ian Wright, 'Volcanoes - The Kermadec Ridge: submarine volcanoes', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/8726/raoul-island-map-1855 (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Richard Smith, David J. Lowe and Ian Wright, published 12 Jun 2006