Ash Hill, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ash Hill |
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Likely one of few clear remains of Ash Hill, as viewed from Ash Road.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 30 m (98 ft) (before subdivision) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Wiri, North Island, New Zealand |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 31,800 years |
| Volcanic field | Auckland volcanic field |
Ash Hill is a small volcano located in Wiri, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is part of the larger Auckland volcanic field, which includes many other volcanoes. Ash Hill was once a low "tuff cone," which is a type of volcano formed when magma interacts with water, causing explosive eruptions that create a wide, flat cone made of volcanic ash and rock fragments.
Today, Ash Hill is mostly covered by buildings and roads due to industrial development. Before this development, it stood about 30 metres above sea level, which was roughly 8 metres higher than the land around it.
What is Ash Hill?
Ash Hill is a type of volcano called a tuff cone. Imagine a wide, low hill made mostly of ash and small rocks. It also had an explosion crater, which is a bowl-shaped hollow, about 150 metres wide. This crater was formed during its eruption.
How Old is Ash Hill?
Scientists have used a method called radiocarbon dating to find out how old Ash Hill is. They discovered that it erupted about 31,800 years ago. This makes it a very old volcano, similar in age to another nearby volcano called Wiri Mountain.
How Ash Hill Got Its Name
The name "Ash Hill" was given by a person named Searle. It was named after a nearby street called Ash Road. Interestingly, Ash Road was named after ash trees, not after the volcanic ash that makes up the hill. So, the name is a bit of a coincidence!
Images for kids
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A piece of Ash Hill, viewed from Oak Road.
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A view across present day Ash Hill.
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A view of part of Ash Hill before obscuring buildings were removed.
