Lahar Path, Tongariro National Park, New Zealand. This gallery includes images from the Lahar Path, Whangaehu Valley, Ruapehu.
The images follow the Whangaehu down from the Tukino Ski Field, across the Round the Mountain Track, then to the Bund and finally out to the Rangipo Desert. The trip was organised by the Department of Conservation and led by Harry Keys.
Lahar Path Top 6 2008 Lahar Path Top 10 2008 Lahar Path Top 7 2008
Lahar Path Waterfall 4 2008 Lahar Path Waterfall 6 2008 Lahar Path Waterfall 5 2008
Lahar Path Top 8 2008 Lahar Path Mid 4 2008 Lahar Path Mid 6 2008
Lahar Path River Bed 1 2008 Lahar Path River Bed 3 2008 Lahar Path River Bed 4 2008
Lahar Path Low 2 2008 Lahar Path Waterfall 7 2008 Lahar Path Low 3 2008
Lahar Path Trampers 4 2008 Lahar Path Old Hut 2 2008 Lahar Path, Harry Keys (2) 2008
Lahars have played a considerable role, over many thousands of years, in shaping the outstanding landscapes and biodiversity of Tongariro National Park. The biodiversity of the Whangaehu outwash fan and the Rangipo Desert, includes tussock shrublands, gravel fields and stone fields. Most Ruapehu lahars recorded since 1861 have been triggered by eruptions that have ejected water from the crater lake. However, lahars can also be triggered by a collapse of part of the rim of a crater lake, with or without an eruption. A ‘bund’ (stopbank) has been constructed to prevent overflow from the Whangaehu lahar path into the Tongariro River headwaters. Source; Department of Conservation "Lahars from Mt Ruapehu", 2006.