North Crater Rim, J.Thomson / GNS Science
North Crater is a prominent feature in the Tongariro massif, with its very wide, flat topped cone. The flat surface of the crater floor is the remains of what was a lava lake. At this time fountains of molten lava covered the slopes of the cone with spatter. The impressive explosion crater within the larger area of North Crater was erupted after the lava lake cooled down. Pumice from the Taupo eruption can be found on the surface around this crater, showing that it is at least 1800 years old. At least some of the cone was formed during the last ice age. There is a second explosion crater to the south-east of the larger one, that is much less distinct, A shallow valley cutting across North Crater, just to the south of the explosion crater, is the washed out surface trace of a possible fault.