New Zealand

At 328 metres Auckland's Sky Tower is the tallest man-made structure in New Zealand. 10-Week Picture Projects: Opposites, Week 3: Big Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.

Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.

Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.

Rangitoto Island is a volcanic island in the Hauraki Gulf near Auckland, New Zealand. The 5.5 km wide island is an iconic and widely visible landmark of Auckland with its distinctive symmetrical shield volcano cone rising 260 metres (850 ft) high over the Hauraki Gulf. Rangitoto is the most recent and the largest (2311 hectares) of the approximately 50 volcanoes of the Auckland volcanic field. It was formed by a series of eruptions between 550 and 600 years ago. The eruptions occurred in two episodes, 10–50 years apart, and are thought to have lasted for several years during the later shield-forming episode. The first episode erupted most of the volcanic ash that mantles Motutapu Island next door, and produced the lower, northern, scoria cone. The second episode built most of Rangitoto erupting all the lava flows and main scoria cone at the apex. The 2.3 cubic kilometres of material that erupted from the volcano was about equal to the combined mass-produced by all the previous eruptions in the Auckland volcanic field, which were spread over more than 250,000 years. Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.

Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.

Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.

Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.

Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.

Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.

Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.

Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.

Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.

Fort Victoria, Devonport, North Island, New Zealand. The threat of Russian expansion into the Pacific in the 1890s stimulated construction of Auckland's coastal defenses. Mount Victoria, being the highest of Devonport's volcanic cones at 87 metres was chosen for the observation and control post. The great disappearing gun was mounted here. It remained hidden in its pit for reloading between firings, it was then pumped upwards by compressed air and water to the firing position. After firing the recoil compressed the air and water in the cylinders again ready for lifting for the next shot. It was fired only once - the vibration cracked the glass in many nearby windows and residents complained. G for Gun in The Alphabet Site.

Fort Victoria, Devonport, North Island, New Zealand. The threat of Russian expansion into the Pacific in the 1890s stimulated construction of Auckland's coastal defenses. Mount Victoria, being the highest of Devonport's volcanic cones at 87 metres was chosen for the observation and control post. The great disappearing gun was mounted here. It remained hidden in its pit for reloading between firings, it was then pumped upwards by compressed air and water to the firing position. After firing the recoil compressed the air and water in the cylinders again ready for lifting for the next shot. It was fired only once - the vibration cracked the glass in many nearby windows and residents complained.

Devonport, North Island, New Zealand.

North Head, Devonport, North Island, New Zealand. Three of these guns were installed at North Head in the 1880s. What is special about this type of gun is that it could hide underground. Gunners working down here received their instructions from the command post above ground via a speaking pipe.

Devonport, North Island, New Zealand.

Devonport, North Island, New Zealand.