CRATER LAKE ON RUAPEHU

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21354, 22 December 1934, Page 16

CRATER LAKE ON RUAPEHU

GREATEST ACTIVITY FOR ROME TIME

DENSE COLUMN OF STEAM [THE PEESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, December 21. The crater lake on Mount Ruapehu has shown its greatest, activity for forne considerable time during the las' two days. A visitor to the Chateau, Mr O. Wilson, of Bulls, climbed the mountain yesterday and found the lake in a very disturbed condition. A dense column of steam was rising to a height estimated at 1000 feet i bove the surface of the lake.

The water was evidently at very l.igh temperature, and was boiling violently in places, presenting a remarkable contrast to the surrounding ice cliffs. There were no signs, however, of the water having risen above ihe ice cliffs oh to the surrounding ;>now. ..

Owing to light clouds and haze near the summit of the mountain, the steam cloud was not clearly visible from the Chateau, but reports were received ihat it was observed from Ranga- ' aua and other points to the south. Early this morning steam could be distinctly seen rising from the crater. The mountain was again climbed today. by Lieutenant J. C. Elworthy, aide de-camp to the Governor-General, in company with a guide from the Chateau. Steam was still rising from the surface of the lake, but the activity was considerably less than on the previous day. There were signs that the ice cliffs were being undermined in places by the heat of the water.

The manager of the Chateau (Mr R. Cobbe) has noticed on previous occasions that the disturbances of Ngaurulioe are frequently accompanied by increased thermal activity in the surrounding district, and there is probably a connexion between the recent eruption of Ngaruhoe and the present disturbance. The activity of Ngauruhoe has not yet ceased entirely, and volumes of black and white vapour are s ill issuing in small quantities from tle crater, at times rising in spirals a few hundred feet above the summit.

Ruapehu was last reported to be showing signs of activity in August, when a column of steam was seen to lie rising from the crater, and the lake was observed to be considerably above its normal temperature in June.