|
|
|
View of Taranaki (Mount Egmont) from the east, with the satellite cone of Panitahi (Fantham's Peak) at left
(photo by Des Hollard) <click to enlarge>
|
|
Taranaki
(Mount Egmont)
8260 ft (2518 m)
.
|
Major Peaks: |
Summit: | 8260 ft (2518 m) |
Panitahi (Fantham's Peak): | 6458 ft (1968 m) |
|
Location: |
Western part of North Island of New Zealand |
Lat / Long: | 39.3° S, 174.1° E |
Volcanic Type: | Stratovolcano |
Volcanic Status: | Active, last eruption 1755 |
First Ascent: | Dr. Ernst Dieffenbach & James Heberly, 1839 |
First Ski Descent: | |
Skiable Vertical: | over 5000 ft (1500 m) |
Lift Served Vertical: | 1380 ft (420 m) at Manganui Ski Field |
Administration: | Egmont National Park |
|
|
|
Taranaki (also known as Mount Egmont) is New Zealand's largest and most spectacular volcano, and is
easily one of the most beautiful volcanic cones anywhere in the world. The graceful symmetry of the
main cone is further enhanced by the satellite cone of Fantham's Peak which is embedded in its southern
side, much as the form of Mount Shasta is enhanced
by the presence of Shastina. The present cone of Taranaki was probaly constructed only in the last
10000 years, although lava flows from older stages of the volcano form a broad ring plain which slopes
all the way to the ocean 15 miles (25 km) away around the perimeter of the Taranaki peninsula. This
gives the Taranaki volcano a much larger volume than the somewhat higher Ruapehu. The cone of Taranaki
holds no glaciers, although a few small permanent snowfields are found on the upper slopes and in the
summit crater. The true summit is a lava dome in the middle of the crater, which is breached to the
west. A small ski field, Manganui, is located on the eastern slopes, and the standard climbing route
ascends from there to the crater rim. With the symmetry of the cone, spectacular ski descents are
possible down almost any flank.
|
|
|
|
Some useful links:
Egmont National Park (official site)
Volcano Camera - Mt Taranaki (Egmont volcano), New Zealand
Manganui Ski Field (Stratford Mountain Club)
New Zealand Topo Online
|
Topographic map of Taranaki (1:40,000 scale)
from NZMS 169 Egmont National Park
<click to enlarge>
|
More photos and info about routes, access, etc. may be added in the future ... |
|