Ruapehu

A surtseyan eruption on May 8, 1971, from Crater Lake at the summit of Ruapehu volcano in New Zealand ejects a dark column of ash, mud, and steam. Individual ejected blocks can be seen at the margins of the cloud, trailing cockscomb sprays of ash and steam. This type of euption column is typical of explosions that involve water-magma interaction.

Type/Process: Magma Meets Water
Volcanic Status: Historical
Image Number: 004-019
Photographer: Peter Otway, 1971 (New Zealand Geological Survey)
Summit Elevation: 2797 meters
Latitude/Longitude: 39.28 S / 175.57 E
Timeframe: Last known eruption 1964 or later
Region: New Zealand to Fiji