Foundations of Stone

A look up to the peak of Mount Ruapehu from the Whakapapa Ski Resort, in the Tongariro Nation Park, New Zealand. Taken last year, when it was late autumn / early winter in NZ. We were driving there, wanting to go to the top of Mount Ruapehu, but with some volcanic activity it was not permitted to go any further than the Whakapapa Ski Resort, which is just below the snow line.

They were currently during season change and preparing the area for winter sports, and there was this chopper constantly flying buildings materials from here to the top of the ski lifts, probably.

Amazing landscape, the harsh rock and signs of past volcanic eruptions are awe-inspiring. Ruapehu and the other volcanoes in the Tongariro area provided the filming set for Mordor (Emyn Muil to be specific)in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings.


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