Photo: White Island Volcano Landscape New Zealand

The volcano landscape of White Island on the North Island of New Zealand is partially made up of streams and sulphur deposits.

The bright yellow and orange colours of the landscape of White Island on the North Island of New Zealand blankets the area, with streams that weave their way around this unique looking landscape. In the backdrop, steam rises from the volcanic crater which has formed over the years as the landscape continuously changes due to the fact that White Island is still considered an active volcano.

The rocks that are covered with sulphur have been ejected from the volcano after an explosion and now lay over a majority of the landscape. There is no plant life that lives on White Island as the environment is far to acidic, but you will get to explore the yellow and white sulphur crystals that grow around the streams.

The history of White Island dates back to 1769 when it was named by Captain Cook afterwhich time Maori people ... continue below the picture...

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... made the most of White Island using the sulphur for their gardens and the wildlife for food. In 1826, Europeans landed on White Island only to find the sight of it totally unappealing and it was not until the late 1830's that the Maori people sold it to a sea captain. It was passed on to a long list of European owners and was used for mining purposes until a massive volcanic explosion took over White Island.

After many attempts of mining by a variety of people, some working out for awhile, it was finally given to White Island Tours in 1997 who were appointed as guardians to White Island. Access to the Island is forbidden unless you are on one of the boat tours owned and operated by White Island Tours.

Not only is White Island an extremely interesting place to visit while in New Zealand, it has become very important to the scientific world of volcanoes. The volcano itself is approximately 100,000 to 200,000 years old but the landscape of White Island that is visible today has been this way for about 16,000 years.

Be sure to venture to White Island while visiting the North Island of New Zealand to see the unique landscape of this active volcano. White Island is closely monitored daily and if the weather conditions are dangerous or the activity levels of the volcano change, the tours will be cancelled and rescheduled when the situation is safe again for visitors.

Streams and sulphur deposits are part of the landscape of White Island, an active volcano, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, North Island, New Zealand.