Te Wairoa, New Zealand

Te Wairoa was a Māori and European village located near Lake Tarawera, New Zealand, established around 1850. The settlement served as a waypoint for travelers visiting the renowned Pink and White Terraces. It was temporarily abandoned in 1865 due to the New Zealand Wars. The village was tragically buried in volcanic ash during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Tarawera on June 10, 1886, which resulted in the loss of 120 lives, many from nearby villages. The eruption and subsequent geological activity left a significant layer of ash and altered the landscape with fissures and new bodies of water. Today, the site is known as the Buried Village, an archaeological site and tourist destination showcasing the excavated village remains and the eruption's history.