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Mount Taranaki is a dormant volcano located in the west of New Zealand's North Island.
The 2581 metre high mountain, which is reasonably close to a perfect ash cone in shape, is geologically young, having commenced activity approximately 135,000 years ago.
Weather conditions on the mountain can change rapidly, catching unexperienced trampers unawares. Many people have died on the mountain after being caught, unprepared in bad weather.
Mount Taranaki is considered unusual in that it has experienced at least five of its major eruptions by the method of cone collapse. Few volcanoes have undergone more than one cone collapse.
The most recent activity was a moderate ash eruption in approximately 1755.
The mountain used to be called Mount Egmont officially, the name given by Captain Cook after the Earl of Egmont. This was changed as it seemed inappropriate to name it after a British noble who had never set foot in New Zealand.