Rangitoto Island, Auckland Volcanic Field, New Zealand

An almost perfectly symmetrical cone rises abruptly from the Hauraki Gulf, stretching its arms to both ends of one’s peripheral vision. Flying high above transforms this seemingly thin strip of rock into a coastal opal, rich with the deep greens and bright blues of the harbour.

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GEOLOGICAL PROFILE: A Holocene basaltic shield volcano topped with central scoria cones, built entirely from recent lava flows. 

DATA SET USED: 1m Digital Elevation Models (LINZ Auckland LiDAR datasets)