The drive was good coming along the South side of Lake Taupo. We passed the Tongariro National Park where an eruption 26,500 years ago created Lake Taupo.
Mt. Ruapehu, at the top of the national park, erupted in 1995/6 during the height of the skiing season. Ohakuni is a ski resort.
1945 eruption and aftermath
The 1945 eruption emptied the crater lake and dammed the outlet with tephra. The crater slowly refilled with water, until on December 24th, 1953 the tephra dam collapsed causing a lahar in the Whangaehu River. The lahar caused the Tangiwai disaster, with the loss of 151 lives, when the Tangiwai railway bridge across the Whangaehu River collapsed while the lahar was in full flood, just before an express train crossed it. It was already known that the river had partially undermined one of the bridge piers and the lahar finished the job, causing the bridge to collapse. Although warned of the collapsed bridge, the train driver was unable to stop the train in time and 6 of the carriages fell into the river.
(Whilst we were in the South Island, on the 2nd May, a level 1 warning was issued after GNS scientists who were monitoring the lake, found irregular signs of volcanic activity. This included increased chemical changes, gases and temperature. )
Richard is still trying to find a guide to take him fishing. The lady at the information was not too helpful.
There were 2 big chestnut trees at the campsite. 3 of us went chestnut picking. It was the first time my mum had seen a fresh chestnut. In Singapore we normally cook with dried chestnuts. It was not easy to peel like the fresh one, and it took a long time to cook. We microwaved them and they were great.
1 comment:
Good post.
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