The Legend of Tongariro
In Maori legend, the mountains were once gods and warriors of great strength.
Seven mountains once stood next to each other around Lake Taupo. All were male except for the beautiful Pihanga.
One night the mountains fought fiercely for her attention. There were violent eruptions, smoke and fire as the land trembled under the violent battle.
In the morning Pihanga stood next to the victor, Tongariro, who became the supreme leader of the land. Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu stood a respectable distance behind but Tauhara – unable to completely leave his love - sat smoldering at the northern end of the lake. Putauaki (Mt Edgecumbe) headed north towards the dawn, and ended up 160 kilometres away, while Mt Taranaki dragged himself south, his tears creating the great Whanganui River as he went.
The active volcanoes around Lake Taupo - Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngauruhoe - are treasures so precious, that local Tuwharetoa Maori gifted them to the nation over a century ago. The Tongariro National Park was the first national park in the world created by gift from an indigenous people.
Mt Ruapehu was the last of the trio to erupt, as recently as 1996, throwing rocks, mud and ash high into the air and temporarily closing its ski fields.
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