Mount Ruapehu Quiz

Location and Geography

• Mount Ruapehu is an active stratovolcano located in the North Island of New Zealand, within the Tongariro National Park.
• It is situated 23 km northeast of Ohakune and 23 km southwest of the southern shore of Lake Taupō.

Features and Peaks

• Mount Ruapehu has three major peaks: Tahurangi (2,797 m), Te Heuheu (2,755 m), and Paretetaitonga (2,751 m).
• It has a deep, active crater called Crater Lake (Te Wai ā-moe) that fills with water between major eruptions.

Ski Resorts and Access

• The North Island's major ski resorts are located on its slopes.
• There are three access routes to Ruapehu, leading to three skifields: Whakapapa, Turoa, and Tukino.

Crater Lake and Eruptions

• Crater Lake is situated at the southern end of the Summit Plateau and is filled with a warm, acidic lake.
• The lake's outlet is at the head of the Whangaehu Valley, where the Whangaehu River arises.
• Eruptions have built tephra dams across the outlet on several occasions, causing destructive lahars down the river.

Glaciers

• A total of 18 glaciers have been recognized on Ruapehu, with six named glaciers.
• Two glaciers are found in the active crater, and most of the ice on Ruapehu is contained in the Whangaehu, Summit Plateau, and Mangatoetoenui glaciers.

Climate

• Mount Ruapehu has a polar tundra climate (Köppen: ET) on the upper slopes.
• The glaciers are sensitive to changes in climate and have been thinning and retreating since 1955, with the exception of the northern crater glacier.