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White Island or Whakari.
New Zealand's only active Marine Volcano.
White Island or Whakaari is a premium New Zealand eco-tourism
attraction and once you have seen this amazing spectacle of nature you
will see why. White
Island can be easily seen from Ohope Beach on most days.
Everyone wants a closer look!
Accessible by sea and air from Whakatane with numerous charter companies
offering access to the Island.
See our Tour and Charter pages.
The volcano is estimated to be between 100 000 and 200 000 years old.
Only some of the island visible above sea level that we see in its present
form today is estimated to be 16 000 years old, further evidence of this
continually changing landscape.
 The
immense crater over 100 metres deep holds a lake (usually fluorescent
green in colour) and a rumbling vent from which the power of the inner
earth constantly belches forth in the form of super-heated steam.
No vegetation survives in the crater and only a few Pohutukawa trees can
be seen struggling for life because of the harsh acidic environment.
Instead sulphur crystals form in among the hissing, steaming, bubbling
fumaroles.
 The
island is home to the Gannets.
A beautiful bird who nests and fishes in the warm abundant fishing grounds
that surround the Island. White
Island is also a location for our recreational diving and fishing industries.
See our Tour and Charter pages.
There are signs of Human industry on the island in the form of a failed
old sulphur works slowly corroding back into the landscape.
Being on White Island is the closest thing to being in the craters
of the moon.
White Island is of great New Zealand Scientific importance and is monitored
constantly by the IGNS (Institute of Geological and Nuclear and Sciences).
You can view the
updated webcams
provided by the institute and see the crater as it is today.
Currently the Island is at alert level 1.
Other active New Zealand volcanoes such as Mt Ruapehu can also
be researched on the Geo Net Website, monitoring geological hazards in
New Zealand with features such as the latest
earthquake report.
If you have a business related to the attractions of White Island and
you wish to advertise it on this website then please contact
the Webmaster.
© Ohope Beach.info 2003
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