The 1886 eruptive fissure that cuts across the Tarawera lava dome complex was the source of a major explosive eruption that produced 2 cu km of basaltic tephra. The 1886 fissure cuts a group of lava domes, including the Wahanga dome at the top of the photo, which was emplaced at the end of the Kaharoa eruption about 800 years ago. That eruption produced 5 cu km of rhyolitic tephra and and another 2.5 cu km of rhyolitoc lava that formed the Wahanga, Tarawera, Crater Dome, and Ruawahia domes.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1986.

Copyrighted image used with permission. All Rights Reserved. Contact photographer for any usage requests.

Okataina