The eighth natural wonder of the world is 'rediscovered' in New Zealand: Scientists claim they have found the Pink and White terraces destroyed by a volcanic eruption in 1886

  • The Pink and White terraces were cascading features on Lake Rotomahana
  • An eruption of the volcano, Mount Tarawera, in 1886 destroyed the terraces
  • Previous studies suggested they were relegated to the bottom of the lake
  • But researchers have looked at the diaries of Ferdinand von Hochstetter, a German-Austrian geologist, who detailed the terraces' location in 1859
  • Their analysis suggests the terraces could be be buried under the shores

By Shivali Best For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

In the 1800s, New Zealand's Pink and White terraces were one of the country's biggest attractions, with many referring to the site as the eighth natural wonder of the world.

A catastrophic volcanic eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886 ruined the terraces, leaving many people thinking the cascading landforms were gone forever.

But researchers now believe they have pinpointed the location of the terraces 15 metres below the shore and are calling on archaeologists to perform a full survey to recover the famous feature.

In the 1800s, New Zealand's pink and white terraces (artist's impression pictured) were one of the country's biggest tourist attractions, with many referring to the stunning site as the eighth natural wonder of the world

In the 1800s, New Zealand's pink and white terraces (artist's impression pictured) were one of the country's biggest tourist attractions, with many referring to the stunning site as the eighth natural wonder of the world

THE PINK AND WHITE TERRACES 

The Pink and White terraces in New Zealand were the world's largest silica sinter deposits on Earth, until they were destroyed in the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera.

They were formed by geothermal springs containing a combination of silica and chloride water.

The springs were around 1,200 metres apart, with the white terrace located at the north-east end the lake, and the pink terrace on the western shore.

The pink appearance over the mid and upper basins was due to arsenic sulfides, although the Pink Terrace also contained gold in ore-grade concentrations. 

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The Pink and White terraces were cascading pools that descended into Lake Rotomahana, on New Zealand's North Island.

The eruption in 1886 buried the terraces under mounds of mud and ash, but two researchers believe they may have found them once again.

Speaking to The Guardian, Rex Bunn, one of researchers, said: 'They [the terraces] became the greatest tourist attraction in the southern hemisphere and the British empire, and shiploads of tourists made the dangerous visit down from the UK, Europe and America to see them.

'But they were never surveyed by the government of the time, so there was no record of their latitude or longitude.'

While previous studies have suggested that the terraces have been relegated to the bottom of Lake Rotomahana, Mr Bunn, together with Dr Sascha Nolden from the National Library of New Zealand, believes this may not be the case.

Instead, the pair believe that the terraces may be buried on the shores of the lake in reasonable condition, and could be restored to their former glory.

The researchers looked at the diaries of Ferdinand von Hochstetter, a German-Austrian geologist, who detailed the terraces' location in 1859.

The diary was discovered by Dr Sascha Nolden in the Hochstetter Collection, based in the Swiss city of Basel.

The researchers looked at the diaries of Ferdinand von Hochstetter, a German-Austrian geologist, who detailed the terraces' location in 1859. The large pink area is the pink terraces, and small pink area on the left is the white terraces

The researchers looked at the diaries of Ferdinand von Hochstetter, a German-Austrian geologist, who detailed the terraces' location in 1859. The large pink area is the pink terraces, and small pink area on the left is the white terraces

However, the 2,000 acre lake area was never officially surveyed,

Mr Bunn said: 'Our research relied on the only survey ever made of that part of New Zealand and therefore we are confident the cartography is sound. Hochstetter was a very competent cartographer.'

The researchers now believe, based on the long-lost diaries, they can estimate their location to within 35 metres.

They believe the terraces were covered by ash during the eruption and are located 10 metres below the surface of the ground next to the lake. 

The pink and white terraces were cascading pools that descended into Lake Rotomahana (pictured), on New Zealand's North Island

The pink and white terraces were cascading pools that descended into Lake Rotomahana (pictured), on New Zealand's North Island

The team now hopes to lead an archaeological survey of the area to find the terraces, although they need to raise £40,000 ($50,788) in funding for this to happen.

Mr Bunn added: 'We want to undertake this work in the public interest.

'And I have been closely liaising with the ancestral owners of the land, the Tuhourangi Tribal Authority, and they are supportive and delighted with the work.'

While previous studies have suggested that the terraces (artist's impression pictured) have been relegated to the bottom of Lake Rotomahana, Mr Bunn, together with Dr Sascha Nolden from the National Library of New Zealand, believes this may not be the case

While previous studies have suggested that the terraces (artist's impression pictured) have been relegated to the bottom of Lake Rotomahana, Mr Bunn, together with Dr Sascha Nolden from the National Library of New Zealand, believes this may not be the case

The study, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, clashes with research in 2011, which used a submarine to study the floor of the lake, and was said to have found remnants of the terraces.

And last year, researchers said they had come to the 'inescapable conclusion' that the terraces had been destroyed.

But Mr Bunn says he is in discussions with these researchers, and hopes his findings will convince them otherwise. 

While researchers know that the terraces were once on the shores of Lake Rotomahana, on New Zealand's North Island, there are clashing theories about what happened to them after the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886

While researchers know that the terraces were once on the shores of Lake Rotomahana, on New Zealand's North Island, there are clashing theories about what happened to them after the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886

 

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