NASA’s Landsat 8 satellite has sent a very curious image. It shows the snow-capped peak of New Zealand’s Taranaki volcano, which is surrounded by a dark green ring of forest.
Mount Taranaki is located on the North Island of New Zealand. Its height is 2,518 meters. It is often called New Zealand Fuji because of its external resemblance. Not surprisingly, Taranaki was used as a background during the filming of The Last Samurai.
The widest part, surrounding the mountain ring of forest, is dominated by rimu and kāmahi, tall evergreen trees native to New Zealand. Stands of kāmahi have also found their niche at higher elevations in what is known as the Goblin Forest. Here they grow, gnarled and twisted around trees that have been destroyed by volcanic eruptions. Toward the top, the forests give way to increasingly shallow bands of subalpine and alpine vegetation.
Despite its neat, almost geometrically correct appearance from space, the volcano has a very turbulent history. According to some estimates, its top was destroyed and rebuilt 16 times. Each cycle resulted in large avalanches. These sediments accumulated and formed the peninsula on which the mountain now stands. The Landsat 8 image also shows two old and extinct volcanoes, Kaitake and Pouakai, which are northwest of the peak of Taranaki.
Taranaki’s last eruption occurred more than 200 years ago. Scientists estimate that with a 30%-50% probability its new wakeup will take place in the next 50 years. It will have a very serious and costly impact, as the region is home to more than 110,000 people and a booming economy. In addition, debris flows descend from the slopes of Taranaki at intervals of several decades.
Despite all this, the symmetrical cone of the volcano has become iconic in New Zealand culture. It represents not only a source of inspiration for works of art, but also a symbol depicted on product labels, postage stamps and even a country’s currency. The mountain and the area within a radius of 9.6 km from its peak is a national park. And in 2017, Taranaki was granted the same legal rights as a person. This was done as part of an arrangement between the New Zealand Government and the Maori.
According to Earthobservatory
