In the Rotorua region of northern New Zealand, about 25 km east of the city of Rotorua, there were two small lakes, called by the local Maori Rotomakariri (Cold Lake) and Rotomahana (Warm Lake). On their shores were the most impressive travertine terraces – the largest in the world, writes pochivka.blitz.bg.
They were formed from minerals accumulated by nearby hot springs. These terraces were so amazing that they were called the “eighth wonder of the world” and were the most famous tourist attraction in New Zealand until the end of the 19th century.
But then the Taravera volcano erupted and destroyed this natural one beauty forever, reports Amusing Planet.
There were two terraces – the larger White Terrace and the smaller Pink Terrace. The white terraces covered three hectares and descended approximately 50 steps to the edge of the lake and 40 meters underwater.
The pink terraces were 800 meters away and hid behind the strong sun, looking to the southeast. The pink color was mainly due to the fact that less light reached them, unlike the White Terraces. People went to bathe on the lower levels because the water was very hot.
On the morning of June 10, 1886, the nearby Mount Taravera was shaken by a strong volcanic eruption that literally tore the center of Lake Rotomahana, scattering tons of sediment from the reservoir for miles around. Everything around is covered with a layer of thick mud, several meters thick.
Photo: Shutterstock
–
In place of the terraces, a large crater formed, which then became today’s Lake Rotomahana – 30 meters higher and much larger than the old one.
The terraces are almost completely destroyed, along with several nearby villages immersed in mud. One of them is Te Vairoa, whose half-buried houses today they are a tourist attraction.
Photo: BGNES / EPA
–
The village was established in the late 50’s in a small valley near Lake Taravera. Although inhabited by Maori, it is built in a European style with a network layout and houses, each with its own garden of 100 square meters.
By 1870, Te Vairoa had become a starting point for expeditions to the pink and white terraces of Rotomahana, and tourism was an important industry. At the time of the eruption of the volcano, it was already a thriving tourist town with several hotels and a population of about 140 people.
Shortly after the tragedy, the village began to attract visitors again. One of the hotels still has several living rooms, which tourists use during their visit to the “buried village”.
Photo: BGNES / EPA
–
A Maori meeting house called Hinemihi, which housed locals during the eruption, was relocated in 1892 to Clandon Park. Until 1906, bus and boat tours gave tourists a glimpse of the remains of the village and the area in 1886.
In 1931, accountant Reg Smith bought Te Vairoa and began uncovering the buried buildings. This work was continued by several generations of the Smith family, until about a third of the settlement was excavated.
The huge artifacts found at the site are currently on display in a museum.
The eruption of Taravera volcano on June 10, 1886 is one of the largest in the history of New Zealand. The tragedy killed about 150 people.
–
