Volcano Ruapehu
The North Island's highest peak and one of New Zealand's most active volcanoes, with a crater lake at the summit and ski fields on its slopes. In 1953 a lahar from the crater lake swept away the Tangiwai railway bridge minutes before a train arrived, killing 151 people; an automatic lahar warning system now watches the lake.
Last eruption
2007
Erupted since 2000
Summit
2.8 km
Stratovolcano · Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Activity
Normal Baseline
1 events (2.1x rate)
Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map
Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.
Recent seismicity within 50 km
1 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.2.1x this volcano’s usual rate.
| Time | Magnitude | Epicenter / Place | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2h ago | M1.7 | 15 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 17 km |
| 12h ago | M1.4 | 25 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 25 km |
| 1d ago | M2.9 | 5 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 44 km |
| 1d ago | M1.3 | 25 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 27 km |
| 1d ago | M1.7 | 20 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 28 km |
| 1d ago | M1.4 | 30 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 42 km |
| 2d ago | M1.5 | 35 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 48 km |
| 2d ago | M3.1 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 30 km |
| 2d ago | M1.1 | 20 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 27 km |
| 2d ago | M2.0 | 15 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 30 km |
| 3d ago | M1.4 | 30 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 36 km |
| 3d ago | M1.8 | 25 km west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 43 km |
| 4d ago | M3.1 | 10 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 50 km |
| 4d ago | M3.1 | 30 km north-east of Taihape, New Zealand | 47 km |
| 4d ago | M2.9 | 10 km south of Turangi, New Zealand | 26 km |
| 4d ago | M1.2 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 23 km |
| 4d ago | M2.6 | 5 km south-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 46 km |
| 4d ago | M1.2 | 25 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 32 km |
| 4d ago | M1.8 | 20 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 28 km |
| 4d ago | M1.5 | 20 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 25 km |
| 4d ago | M1.2 | 20 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 20 km |
| 5d ago | M1.0 | 25 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 24 km |
| 5d ago | M0.9 | 15 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 29 km |
| 5d ago | M0.8 | 20 km north-east of Ohakune, New Zealand | 0.9 km |
| 5d ago | M1.2 | 10 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 44 km |
| 6d ago | M1.2 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 24 km |
| 6d ago | M0.9 | 15 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 16 km |
| 6d ago | M2.2 | 40 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 47 km |
| 6d ago | M0.7 | 15 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 8.4 km |
| 6d ago | M1.3 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 22 km |
| 8d ago | M1.6 | 25 km west of Taihape, New Zealand | 47 km |
| 8d ago | M0.3 | 20 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 27 km |
| 8d ago | M2.0 | Within 5 km of Taihape, New Zealand | 46 km |
| 8d ago | M1.3 | 20 km north-east of Taihape, New Zealand | 47 km |
| 8d ago | M0.7 | 30 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 26 km |
| 8d ago | M1.2 | 20 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 27 km |
| 8d ago | M0.8 | 20 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 27 km |
| 9d ago | M1.5 | Within 5 km of Turangi, New Zealand | 35 km |
| 9d ago | M0.5 | 20 km east of Ohakune, New Zealand | 19 km |
| 9d ago | M0.9 | 20 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 26 km |
| 9d ago | M0.7 | Within 5 km of Turangi, New Zealand | 34 km |
| 9d ago | M0.8 | 15 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 16 km |
| 9d ago | M1.3 | 25 km west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 41 km |
| 9d ago | M2.0 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 28 km |
| 10d ago | M1.2 | 10 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 46 km |
| 10d ago | M2.2 | 10 km east of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 50 km |
| 10d ago | M1.4 | 15 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 29 km |
| 10d ago | M0.7 | 20 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 27 km |
| 11d ago | M2.4 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 23 km |
| 11d ago | M1.3 | 25 km south-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 47 km |
| 11d ago | M1.4 | 20 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 28 km |
| 11d ago | M1.5 | 20 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 26 km |
| 11d ago | M1.9 | 15 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 35 km |
| 11d ago | M1.4 | 10 km south-east of Turangi, New Zealand | 37 km |
| 11d ago | M2.3 | 35 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 45 km |
| 11d ago | M1.8 | 10 km west of Turangi, New Zealand | 35 km |
| 11d ago | M1.8 | 20 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 28 km |
| 11d ago | M0.9 | 20 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 28 km |
| 11d ago | M1.7 | 5 km south-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 44 km |
| 11d ago | M1.0 | 10 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 44 km |
| 11d ago | M1.4 | 15 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 29 km |
| 12d ago | M1.3 | 20 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 28 km |
| 12d ago | M2.0 | 10 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 39 km |
| 12d ago | M1.6 | 40 km south-east of Turangi, New Zealand | 46 km |
| 12d ago | M1.1 | 20 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 26 km |
| 12d ago | M1.3 | 10 km south of Turangi, New Zealand | 25 km |
| 13d ago | M1.0 | 20 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 18 km |
| 14d ago | M0.5 | 15 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 29 km |
| 14d ago | M0.7 | 20 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 28 km |
| 15d ago | M1.5 | 20 km north-east of Taihape, New Zealand | 48 km |
| 15d ago | M1.0 | 20 km south-west of Turangi, New Zealand | 15 km |
| 15d ago | M2.5 | 10 km south-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 39 km |
| 16d ago | M1.1 | 25 km north-east of Ohakune, New Zealand | 11 km |
| 16d ago | M1.3 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 28 km |
| 16d ago | M0.5 | 35 km south of Turangi, New Zealand | 31 km |
| 18d ago | M1.3 | 35 km north-east of Taihape, New Zealand | 39 km |
| 18d ago | M0.7 | 20 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 25 km |
| 18d ago | M2.5 | 25 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 39 km |
| 18d ago | M1.6 | 5 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 48 km |
| 18d ago | M1.3 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 24 km |
| 18d ago | M1.1 | 30 km south of Turangi, New Zealand | 26 km |
| 19d ago | M1.0 | 15 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 16 km |
| 19d ago | M0.8 | 20 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 21 km |
| 20d ago | M0.7 | 20 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 21 km |
| 20d ago | M1.3 | 20 km south of Turangi, New Zealand | 25 km |
| 20d ago | M1.9 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 23 km |
| 21d ago | M1.4 | 10 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 49 km |
| 21d ago | M1.6 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 32 km |
| 21d ago | M2.3 | 10 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 44 km |
| 21d ago | M1.5 | 15 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 43 km |
| 21d ago | M1.6 | 10 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 41 km |
| 21d ago | M1.3 | 5 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 46 km |
| 21d ago | M4.2 | 10 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 50 km |
| 22d ago | M2.5 | 10 km south-west of Turangi, New Zealand | 26 km |
| 22d ago | M0.4 | 5 km south-east of Turangi, New Zealand | 33 km |
| 22d ago | M0.5 | 20 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 26 km |
| 22d ago | M2.1 | 10 km south of Ohakune, New Zealand | 27 km |
| 22d ago | M0.6 | 25 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 26 km |
| 23d ago | M1.5 | 35 km north-east of Taihape, New Zealand | 36 km |
| 23d ago | M1.1 | 20 km south-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 31 km |
| 24d ago | M1.5 | 5 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 49 km |
| 24d ago | M1.9 | 5 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 43 km |
| 24d ago | M2.8 | 45 km south-east of Turangi, New Zealand | 46 km |
| 24d ago | M2.0 | 25 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 32 km |
| 24d ago | M1.2 | 35 km south-east of Turangi, New Zealand | 45 km |
| 24d ago | M1.4 | 20 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 26 km |
| 24d ago | M1.3 | 10 km south of Ohakune, New Zealand | 31 km |
| 24d ago | M1.3 | 10 km south-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 34 km |
| 24d ago | M1.4 | 20 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 26 km |
| 25d ago | M0.7 | 25 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 15 km |
| 25d ago | M0.4 | 20 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 28 km |
| 25d ago | M2.2 | 15 km south of Ohakune, New Zealand | 34 km |
| 25d ago | M1.5 | 25 km south of Ohakune, New Zealand | 49 km |
| 25d ago | M1.4 | 10 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 49 km |
| 25d ago | M2.0 | 20 km east of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 42 km |
| 25d ago | M2.1 | 25 km south of Ohakune, New Zealand | 46 km |
| 25d ago | M1.0 | 35 km south of Turangi, New Zealand | 33 km |
| 26d ago | M1.5 | 10 km north-east of Taihape, New Zealand | 47 km |
| 26d ago | M1.6 | 25 km east of Ohakune, New Zealand | 20 km |
| 26d ago | M2.1 | 30 km south of Turangi, New Zealand | 23 km |
| 26d ago | M2.1 | 10 km south-west of Turangi, New Zealand | 25 km |
| 26d ago | M0.8 | 35 km south-east of Turangi, New Zealand | 42 km |
| 26d ago | M1.6 | 15 km north-east of Ohakune, New Zealand | 3.0 km |
| 26d ago | M2.1 | 35 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 47 km |
| 27d ago | M1.8 | 30 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 40 km |
| 27d ago | M1.5 | 25 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 17 km |
| 27d ago | M1.4 | 25 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 23 km |
| 27d ago | M2.1 | 15 km south of Turangi, New Zealand | 29 km |
| 28d ago | M1.3 | 5 km north-east of Ohakune, New Zealand | 12 km |
| 28d ago | M0.9 | 15 km south-west of Turangi, New Zealand | 18 km |
| 29d ago | M1.0 | 20 km east of Ohakune, New Zealand | 12 km |
| 29d ago | M2.4 | 25 km south-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 48 km |
| 29d ago | M2.1 | 5 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 44 km |
| 29d ago | M1.2 | 15 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 47 km |
| 29d ago | M1.4 | 25 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 43 km |
| 30d ago | M0.9 | 10 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 39 km |
| 30d ago | M0.8 | 5 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 14 km |
| 30d ago | M2.2 | 25 km south-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 48 km |
| 30d ago | M1.0 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 23 km |
| 30d ago | M0.8 | 25 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 31 km |
| 30d ago | M0.8 | 25 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 26 km |
| 30d ago | M1.0 | 15 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 11 km |
| 31d ago | M1.0 | 25 km north-west of Turangi, New Zealand | 49 km |
| 31d ago | M1.5 | 30 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 44 km |
| 31d ago | M1.6 | 15 km north of Turangi, New Zealand | 49 km |
| 31d ago | M3.0 | 15 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 13 km |
| 31d ago | M1.4 | 10 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 43 km |
| 32d ago | M2.9 | 20 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 33 km |
| 32d ago | M0.8 | 15 km west of Turangi, New Zealand | 24 km |
| 33d ago | M3.5 | 35 km north-east of Taihape, New Zealand | 45 km |
| 33d ago | M2.3 | 10 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 42 km |
| 33d ago | M2.8 | 10 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 42 km |
| 34d ago | M0.8 | 20 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 27 km |
| 34d ago | M1.7 | 15 km south-west of Turangi, New Zealand | 18 km |
| 34d ago | M2.3 | 25 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 29 km |
| 34d ago | M1.3 | 10 km north-west of Turangi, New Zealand | 44 km |
| 34d ago | M1.8 | 15 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 32 km |
| 34d ago | M1.3 | 25 km west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 43 km |
| 34d ago | M1.5 | 30 km south of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 33 km |
| 35d ago | M1.9 | 25 km south of Turangi, New Zealand | 20 km |
| 35d ago | M1.0 | 20 km south-east of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 31 km |
| 35d ago | M0.7 | 10 km east of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 44 km |
| 35d ago | M1.6 | 20 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 27 km |
| 35d ago | M1.3 | 10 km north of Taihape, New Zealand | 34 km |
| 36d ago | M2.6 | 15 km south-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 36 km |
| 36d ago | M1.1 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 25 km |
| 36d ago | M2.3 | 20 km south-east of Ohakune, New Zealand | 33 km |
| 36d ago | M1.5 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 23 km |
| 36d ago | M1.9 | 25 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 47 km |
| 36d ago | M1.4 | 10 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 47 km |
| 36d ago | M1.6 | 10 km south-west of Taumarunui, New Zealand | 45 km |
| 36d ago | M2.6 | 25 km north of Ohakune, New Zealand | 18 km |
| 36d ago | M2.3 | 20 km south-east of Ohakune, New Zealand | 28 km |
| 37d ago | M1.4 | 20 km north-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 24 km |
| 37d ago | M1.2 | 25 km north-east of Ohakune, New Zealand | 9.4 km |
| 37d ago | M1.7 | 15 km north-west of Taihape, New Zealand | 32 km |
| 38d ago | M2.3 | 40 km south-east of Turangi, New Zealand | 48 km |
| 38d ago | M2.1 | 20 km south of Ohakune, New Zealand | 40 km |
| 38d ago | M1.4 | 15 km south-west of Ohakune, New Zealand | 38 km |
Geological & Tectonic Profile
StratovolcanoRuapehu is an active Stratovolcano formed in an active Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km). Dominant lithology: Andesite / Basaltic Andesite.
Edifice TypeStratovolcano
Major rockAndesite / Basaltic Andesite
TectonicsSubduction zone
Volcanic ArcTaupo Volcanic Arc
Volcano Dossier
VN #241100Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.
CountryNew Zealand
Crater Coordinates-39.280°, 175.570°
Summit2.8 km
SubregionTaupo Volcanic Arc
Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#241100)
Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure
Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →
Regional Seismic Profile
North Island & Hikurangi Subduction
Explore live seismic monitoring, historical danger benchmarks, fault slip models and recurrence intervals for North Island & Hikurangi Subduction.
Open Regional HubFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols
The most recent eruption of Ruapehu recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2007.
Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile