Wednesday, Mar 6th, Taupo, New Zealand

Greetings!

In AD 180, the largest and most violent eruption in recorded history destroyed every living thing in New Zealand.  There were reports of an unusually red summer in Rome and China.

Left today is a very large lake formed from the crator's rim almost 20 miles wide.  And for 50 miles in all directions, the searing heat of the sub-surface magma provides geothermal hot springs that tourists like us come to hike into.

Kudos a'plenty to the New Zealand Department of Conservation for building and maintaining the infrastructure necessary to keep us safe while doing it.  I know how hard it is to keep up trails in California parks, and can appreciate the even more difficult task of replacing wooden walkways (832 stairs) eaten by sulphuric acid and steam.

To see the remaining photos we took today, click on: Wednesday, Mar 6th, Taupo, New Zealand.