White Island

Tuesday, 27th February 2007

Drove to Wkakatane we sailed to White Island, a volcanic island that last erupted in 2000. It is just the peak of much larger submarine volcano. The island has been in a nearly continuous stage of releasing volcanic gas at least since it was sighted by James Cook in 1769

2022 Update

There was a large eruption in December 2019 which resulted in 22 fatalities. 25 survivors were seriously injured, many critically and suffering severe burns.

 

Pee Jay boat

 

An inflatable dinghy takes us from the boat . . .

 

but the jetty looks a tricky affair

 

Thermal lake

 

Rim of crater

 

Heat and pressure mound

 

Fumerole and sulphur

 

Thermal activity

 

and more

 

Looking back

 

Active volcano

 

Coloured strata

 

Vents

 

Rim

 

Bubbling lake

 

Lava flows

 

Crater views

 

and more

 

Sulphur stream

 

Fumeroles

 

Thermal activity

 

Collapsed heat and pressure mound

 

Rim

 

and again

 

Suphur stream

 

Bay

 

Looking back towards lakes

 

Leaving . . .

 

futher away . . .

 

and further

 

and furthest

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