| Pihanga | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,326 m (4,350 ft) |
| Coordinates | 39°02′29″S 175°46′07″E / 39.04139°S 175.76861°E |
| Geography | |
  Pihanga | |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | at least 20,000 years ago[1] |
 Map centered on Pihanga to show approximate selected surface volcanic deposits nearby with andesite in red shading. Lake Rotoaira is to the south west and beyond it are the larger andesitic deposits of Tongariro. To the west across the Te Ponanga Saddle ( no colour as mixed source deposits ) are the similar andesitic deposits of the Kakaramea-Tihia Massif. Rhyolitic ignimbrite surface deposits are various shades of violet from eruptions of the Taupō Volcano and Lake Taupō is to the north.
Clicking on the map enlarges it, and enables panning and mouseover of volcano name/wikilink and ages before present. Key for the volcanics that are shown with panning is: basalt (shades of brown/orange), monogenetic basalts, undifferentiated basalts of the Tangihua Complex in Northland Allochthon, arc basalts, arc ring basalts, andesite (shades of red), basaltic andesite, and plutonic. White shading is selected caldera features. | |
Pihanga is a 1,326 metres (4,350 ft)[2] andesitic volcanic peak in the North Island Volcanic Plateau, located to the north of Mount Tongariro, between Tongariro and Lake Taupō. The nearest town to Pihanga is Tūrangi.
Lake Rotoaira lies to the south-west of Pihanga, and the smaller Lake Rotopounamu is situated on the south-western flank of the volcano, near Te Ponanga Saddle. Across the saddle to the west is the volcanic peak of Tihia.
Pihanga and Lake Rotopounamu are part of the 5,129ha Pihanga Scenic Reserve, which in 1975 was added to the Tongariro National Park.
Pihanga appears to have a large crater, but this is in fact the result of erosion, and the "crater" quickly narrows into a steep gorge.
- ^ Topping, Wayne William (1974). "Some Aspects of Quaternary History of Tongariro Volcanic Centre".
- ^ Index Mundi: New Zealand: Mountains: Pihanga to Poarangitautahi