Pihanga
Encyclopedia
Mount Pihanga is a 1325m volcanic
peak in the North Island Volcanic Plateau
, located to the north of Mount Tongariro
, between Tongariro and Lake Taupo
. Lake Rotoaira
lies immediately to the west of Pihanga, and the smaller Lake Rotopounamu
is at the north-west foot of the mountain. Mt. Pihanga and Lake Rotopounamu are part of the 5,129ha Pihanga Scenic Reserve, which in 1975 was added to the Tongariro National Park
.
and Tongariro fought over, at a time when Taranaki was also located among the central North Island mountains
. Tongariro's victory resulted in Taranaki's banishment to the west coast, with his movement creating features such as the Whanganui
and Patea River
s, and the Ngaere swamp
.
39°02′28.75"S 175°46′7"E
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
peak in the North Island Volcanic Plateau
North Island Volcanic Plateau
The North Island Volcanic Plateau is a volcanic plateau covering much of central North Island of New Zealand with volcanoes, lava plateaus, and crater lakes....
, located to the north of Mount Tongariro
Mount Tongariro
Mount Tongariro is a volcanic complex in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 kilometres to the southwest of Lake Taupo, and is the northernmost of the three active volcanoes that dominate the landscape of the central North Island....
, between Tongariro and Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo is a lake situated in the North Island of New Zealand. With a surface area of , it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, and the second largest freshwater lake by surface area in geopolitical Oceania after Lake Murray ....
. Lake Rotoaira
Lake Rotoaira
Lake Rotoaira is a small lake to the south of Lake Taupo on the North Island Volcanic Plateau in New Zealand. It covers an area of 13 km²....
lies immediately to the west of Pihanga, and the smaller Lake Rotopounamu
Lake Rotopounamu
Lake Rotopounamu is a secluded lake in the Pihanga Scenic Reserve, in the Tongariro National Park in New Zealand's Central North Island. It lies at the northwest foot of Mt Pihanga, and was formed by a landslide around 10,000 years ago....
is at the north-west foot of the mountain. Mt. Pihanga and Lake Rotopounamu are part of the 5,129ha Pihanga Scenic Reserve, which in 1975 was added to the Tongariro National Park
Tongariro National Park
Tongariro National Park is the oldest national park in New Zealand, located in the central North Island. It has been acknowledged by UNESCO as one of the 28 mixed cultural and natural World Heritage Sites....
.
Maori Mythology
In Maori mythology, Pihanga was the female mountain whom TaranakiMount Taranaki
Mount Taranaki, or Mount Egmont, is an active but quiescent stratovolcano in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. Although the mountain is more commonly referred to as Taranaki, it has two official names under the alternative names policy of the New Zealand...
and Tongariro fought over, at a time when Taranaki was also located among the central North Island mountains
North Island Volcanic Plateau
The North Island Volcanic Plateau is a volcanic plateau covering much of central North Island of New Zealand with volcanoes, lava plateaus, and crater lakes....
. Tongariro's victory resulted in Taranaki's banishment to the west coast, with his movement creating features such as the Whanganui
Whanganui River
The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand.Known for many years as the Wanganui River, the river's name reverted to Whanganui in 1991, according with the wishes of local iwi. Part of the reason was also to avoid confusion with the Wanganui River in the South Island...
and Patea River
Patea River
The Patea River is in Taranaki in the North Island of New Zealand. It runs for 105 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki, passing east through Stratford before swinging south and reaching the South Taranaki Bight near the town of Patea....
s, and the Ngaere swamp
Ngaere
Ngaere is a village situated on State Highway 3, 4 kilometres south of Stratford, New Zealand. The name Ngaere literally means "swamp" in English, and before settlement, the area was covered by a vast and ancient wetland....
.
External links
- Planetware: New Zealand: Turangi: Mt Pihanga
- United Nations Environment Programme: Parks and Protected Areas: World Heritage Sites: Tongariro National Park
- Best, Elsdon. The Maori - Volume I, V Myth and Folk Lore. p205.
- Index Mundi: New Zealand: Mountains: Pihanga to Poarangitautahi
- Peter Thomson: Walks, GPS Tracks and lots of photographs: New Zealand: Rotopounamu
39°02′28.75"S 175°46′7"E