Story: Volcanoes

Signs of volcanic activity died away after the 1974–75 eruptions, and in 1993, when this shot was taken, Mt Ngauruhoe appeared quite benign. The black tongues on the cone are mainly lavas from the 1954 eruptions, whereas older prehistoric flows are lighter in colour. Until 1975, Ngauruhoe was the most active New Zealand volcano, erupting every few years on average.