As a boat tour departs from White Island, an active volcano in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, the smoke filtering out of a massive crater mixes amongst the thin cloud covering. The smoke can rise hundreds of feet into the sky and can be seen for quite a distance. Any visitors to the volcano on a boat tour or helicopter tour, which are privately owned, are equipped with masks to avoid inhaling any of the gases in the smoke coming from the crater.
White Island volcano is closely monitored by experts and any change in activity would quickly cancel the boat tours or if the weather is unstable. The boat tour is approximately 80 minutes back to Whakatane, New Zealand where passengers can enjoy the scenery and keep watch for any marine life which could surface at any given time.
White Island, an active volcano, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, North Island, New Zealand.
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