Auckland Volcanos, New Zealand

During the last 140 thousand years, over fifty scoria hills have developed into a large volcanic field, which is the area of Auckland, New Zealand.

Every hill, or scoria cone, was born from just one large magma bubble coming up from far under the earth’s crust, meaning that every one of them is monogenic.

The space between the cones is where the next major shifting of the earth’s thin crust will probably happen. Many grass covered conic uprisings are able to be seen no matter where you’re looking from in Auckland.

A good example of this is One Tree Hill, or what the natives call Maungawhau. Measured at approximately 196 meters, the native translation of the name is whau tree mountain. Three craters, which are in line, cause the base’s oval shape.

Over five and a half square kilometers was the area of coverage for the lava bubble, which might of fill over thirty thousand pools, which would have been Olympic regulation in size. The fortification, or pa, where the Maori residents stayed on One Tree Hill was abandoned about 1700. The proof of their having lived there is easily seen by the alterations of the cone’s actual shape made for housing and cooking needs.

Mount Eden, which is also called the kiekie vine hill, is actually named Maungakiekie. It held three various pa sites and offered residence to the largest amount of Maori settlers from around the New Zealand area. Steps engraved into the rock, or terracing, can be found along with a large number of cooking or fire pits.

In 1901, a well off citizen of Auckland who owned the area donated it to the city, though it had been considered as a reserve area since about the mid 1800’s. From then till now, many recreational opportunities are available for those who live in the Auckland area, as well as tourists and other visitors who come to see its natural beauty.

Forested areas, small cow and sheep farms, as well as hiking and picnic areas so close to the city still give people a chance to feel like they are getting away from it all in a rural area.

New Zealand can be seen from one side to the other due to the isthmus, which holds the city of Auckland. Because of their height, quite a few of the larger cone hills allow a person to see the island and surrounding ocean all around the island.