Mount Taranaki – New Zealand

Have you guessed what this is, located 10 km from the top? The entire territory is within a radius of 10 km from the top. On a jutting promontory over the Tasman Sea, like a lonely giant, there is a volcanic mountain in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island – Egmont, or Mount Taranaki.

Mount Taranaki

Towering like an island from the sea of pasture meadows, Mount Taranaki often seems like a mirage, disappearing and reappearing as clouds and fog sometimes completely hide it. But in clear weather, the majestic peak cuts into the sky, and almost the entire array is visible from afar. From the snow-capped peak (2494 m) to the rain forests of the lower slopes, dazzling landscapes surround Mount Taranaki.

Mt Taranaki

Maori say that Mount Egmont – which they call Taranaki – originated on Cape Egmont as a result of a love affair. Taranaki used to live in the centre of the North Island, but he constantly fought with another mountain warrior, Tongariro, for his possession of the mountain maiden Pyhanga. Taranaki was defeated. He retreated to the southwest, cutting a gorge along the way – the valley of the Wanganui River.

The jagged cliffs on the upper slopes of the Taranaki mountain tell a different story: they were created by lava because Mount Egmont is a volcano. Lava broke to the surface about 70,000 years ago, when Pouacai and Kaitake, volcanoes to the northwest of Mount Egmont, had already become extinct. Since then, the volcano Egmont has periodically erupted, throwing lahars – mudflows containing rock fragments. The most terrible eruption occurred in 1500, the last powerful in 1665, and the least severe in 1775.

However, violent volcanic activity can not only destroy but also create. Farmers should be grateful to her for the volcanic ash, which ensures the fertility of the soil on which a rich harvest matures. Some local plants are not found anywhere else: on a mountain, isolated, like an island, there are two local species of daisies, a unique fern, and two rare species of butterflies.

Taranaki, New Zealand

Taranaki

Entering the maze of lush vegetation on the lower slopes, you are lost in the rainforest, where the trees of Rimu (Dacrydium) are 30 times taller than other trees. On the branches of Rimu, twisting around them like lianas, other trees grow, for example, rata (metrosederos), also fighting for access to light. Rata does not eat at the expense of Rimu, but independently, lowering their aerial roots down into the soil. In time, the rata will probably win the struggle for light against Rome. However, the trees of these two species are gradually disappearing under the onslaught of the third species – Kamakho (Weismania).

Above you can see conifers – Kaykavaka (Lipodermis); some are over 400 years old. At an elevation of approximately 1070 m, the mountains are shrub-tall. Rocks and debris colour the belt of alpine flowers, while mosses and lichens cover the crater edges.

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Mount Egmont

For centuries, no one except Māori has walked on the slopes of the mountain. In 1642, the Dutch navigator Tasman sailed past Cape Egmont, probably on an overcast day, since he does not mention this mountain. Only on January 10, 1770, Mount Egmont appeared before the eyes of a European; he was Captain James Cook, who gave the grotto the name of the former First Lord of the Admiralty.

In 1839, Maori guides accompanied the first European expedition to the top of the mountain; naturalist Professor E. Dieffenbach and whaler J. Geberley participated in it. They followed in the footsteps of Tauranga, the Maori leader, who ascended to the top several centuries before them. According to legend, a thin transparent cloud, often circling above the summit, is the smoke from its fire. Maori believe that spirits and mythical reptiles live among the majestic mountains, so the guides did not dare to step above the snowline, and the Europeans climbed the summit together.

Today, Mount Egmont is the most popular peak among rock climbers. Every year at least 240,000 people climb it. The entire territory within a radius of 10 km from the top in 1881 became a reserve.

Mt Taranaki, New Zealand

Mount Egmont is the last bastion of forests covering the whole area; it remains unchallenged, as does its green cover. Sudden changes in the mood of the mountain can take visitors by surprise: a wind suddenly blows, or the fog suddenly drops. And the volcano itself is dormant; it can wake up at any moment.

In the forests covering the slopes of Mount Egmont, luxurious ferns and creepers grow, and long garlands of pale green moss hang from many trees.

Sometimes through the branches of the trees, one can see the delicate pink petals of an elegant fragrant orchid. Orchids can be seen on the lower surface of the branches; these are epiphytes that use tree branches for support. But they do not harm the trees; instead, they feed on decomposing substances and moisture that accumulate on the branches.

Externally, the volcano is similar to the Japanese volcano Fuji, so in the movie "The Last Samurai," Taranaki was used as a background.

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Mount Taranaki, New Zealand

For many centuries, this mountain was considered sacred by the local population (Maori), and, of course, there are many legends among the locals about this volcano. For example, one of them:

PREVIOUSLY, TARANAKI LIVED WITH THE OTHER VOLCANOES IN THE CENTER OF THE NORTH ISLAND – TONGARIRO (THE TONGARIRO), RUAPEHU (RUAPEHU), AND NGARUHOE (NGAURUHOE). BUT HERE IT HAS MANAGED TO FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM AS HIS WIFE, TONGARIRO, THE BEAUTIFUL HILL PIHANGA (PIHANGA). TONGARIRO FELT STRONG JEALOUSY, AND A TERRIBLE BATTLE BEGAN BETWEEN THE VOLCANOES. TARANAKI WAS MUCH SMALLER THAN TONGARIRO AND WAS DEFEATED. ALL IN TEARS, HE FLED TO THE WEST, TO THE PLACE WHERE IT IS NOW, AND HIS FLOWING STREAMS OF TEARS TURNED INTO THE RIVER FANGANUI (WANGANUI). TEARS FROM UNREQUITED LOVE CREATE MORE THAN FIFTY STREAMS AND MOUNTAIN STREAMS ON ITS SLOPES.

Taranaki is one of the most beautiful volcanoes in the world. In the spring, when the snow comes down from its top, lush vegetation begins to cover the mountain slopes. And streams run down the slopes, forming beautiful lakes with the purest water.