Then Mount Tarawera erupted and destroyed this natural wonder forever.
The White Terraces were at the north end of Lake Rotomahana and faced away from the lake.
They covered 3 hectares and descended over approximately 50 steps to the lakes edge 40 meters below.
The extra sunlight they received from facing north gave them a more bleached or white appearance.
Their pink appearance was largely due to less sunlight reaching them and therefore less bleaching.
Its where people went to bathe on the lower levels because the temperature of the water was lukewarm.
The Pink Terraces descended 30 meters over a distance of 75 meters.
The waters had dissolved minerals that crystallized over hundreds of years to form these brilliant stepped structures.
Charles Bloomfield’s oil on canvas painting of the White Terraces.
New Zealand was still relatively inaccessible at that time and passage took several months by ship.
The Pink and White Terraces became New Zealand’s most famous tourist attraction.
They also ran a small hotel nearby and entertained visitors with dancing and singing.
All this changed during the night of 10 June 1886 when Mount Tarawera erupted.
Along with the terraces, it destroyed several villages and killed nearly 150 people.
After the eruption, a crater over 100 meters deep formed on the site of the terraces.
Charles Bloomfield’s oil on canvas painting of the Pink Terraces.
Dated 1893.Photo credit
Charles Bloomfield’s oil on canvas painting of the Pink Terraces.
