The
Auckland Volcanic Field
- Auckland
is New Zealand's major city, having a population of over 1 million people,
much of the country's industry, the main international airport and the busiest
port.
- Auckland is
a unique volcanic place in that it has as many as 50 volcanic centres, all
of which have been active inside the last 60,000 years. The most recently
active of the volcanoes is Rangitoto, which rose from the sea about 700 years
ago, and may have erupted as recently as 300 years ago.
- Most of these
volcanoes are located on the densely populated part of the city - the isthmus
between the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours
Map from Form 5 Geography, by A.E. Broad and K.R. Carter, ESA
Publications
- Given the
probability of another eruption at some time in the future, why do people
continue to live in the city (and other cities with a high natural hazard,
such as Wellington or Napier)?
-
Optimism
-
Ignorance
-
Faith in Science to predict future eruptions
- and most
importantly ....
-
Resources (such as basalt rock and fertile volcanic soils) which can be
used by people
