049 NEW ZEALAND - Tongariro National Park (WHS)

Tongariro National Park is the oldest national park in New Zealand, located in the central North Island. It was the fourth national park established in the world. The active volcanic mountains Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro are located in the centre of the park. There are a number of Maori religious sites within the park and the summits of Tongariro, including Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu, are tapu (sacred). Like the whole of New Zealand, Tongariro National Park is situated in a temperate zone. In 1886 in order to prevent the selling of the mountains to European settlers, the local Ngati Tuwharetoa iwi had the mountains surveyed in the Native Land Court and then set aside as a reserve in the names of certain chiefs one of whom was Te Heuheu Tukino IV, the most significant chief of Maori Ngati Tuwharetoa iwi. Later the peaks of Mount Tongariro, Mount Ngauruhoe and parts of Mount Ruapehu, were conveyed to The Crown on 23 September 1887, on condition that a protected area was established there

The postcard shows the beautiful Emerald Lakes at the Tongariro Crossing. The Emerald Lakes are three small crater lakes at Mount Tongariro. The Emerald Lakes fill explosion craters. Their brilliant colours are partly caused by dissolved minerals, washed down from the thermal area of nearby Red Crater, so it's impossible to go swimming in the lake.

About the sender

Susan Coughey (direct swap) sent from Auckland (New Zealand) on 19.10.2013