Mt Putauaki (Edgecumbe)

 

Mt. Putauaki (Edgecumbe), a dacite volcanic cone, sits prominently within New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty region. It marks the easternmost vent of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, adjacent to the Ōkataina volcanic center. Despite its current dormancy, the volcano’s last substantial eruption approximately 2,600 years ago produced a significant volume of lava.

Mt. Putauaki holds historical and cultural significance. Captain James Cook named it Mount Edgecumbe in 1769, while the official Māori name, Putauaki, translates to “the hill of the winter cloak.” The mountain boasts a distinctive conical shape visible from a considerable distance, including the Bay of Plenty coastline.