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Volcanic & Thermal Activity - Past & Present

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April 20th 2012
New Zealand is blessed with numerous incredible beaches. Heading up the west coast of the North Island from Wellington, we discovered a black sand beach in Wanganui that extended into the horizon in both directions. The black sand is one of the remants from volcanic activity. Scattered along the beach are pumice stones and chunks of lava amongst the driftwood. North along the coast is Mount Tar ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » North Island » Coromandel » Thames

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The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year... ... read more