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Story: Historic volcanic activity

Incandescent ash column

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Incandescent ash column

It is usually difficult and dangerous to get close to an ash column as it erupts from a vent. When this photograph was taken, in April 1977, a strong southerly wind was blowing away from the photographer, exposing the red-hot ash and gas in the centre of the column.

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Private collection

by Simon Nathan

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How to cite this page

Eileen McSaveney, Carol Stewart and Graham Leonard, Historic volcanic activity – Eruptions in early history, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/6834/incandescent-ash-column (accessed 4 June 2026).

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