Mt. Doom
Whether you call it Mount Doom or Mount Ngauruhoe, this iconic New Zealand volcano helped to put the Tongariro National Park on the map.
Wearily ascending to the summit of a simmering volcano is not the vacation that most people long for. But for avid Lord of the Rings (LOTR) fans, that sounds like an absolute dream come true! The beautifully picturesque Mt. Ngauruhoe located within New Zealand’s Tongariro National Park, is the well-known and easily recognized Mount Doom from Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of J.R.R Tolkien’s classic fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is New Zealand’s youngest and historically most active volcano. Starting in 1839 the volcano has experienced more than 70 eruptions with the most recent one taking place on February 19th, 1975 (Responsive, n.d.). This is perhaps why Jackson chose it to be the most recognizable landmark for his star catching films.
Mount Doom from LOTR is a symbolic site, representing both the beginning and end of all that the series encompasses. It is the place where Sauron, an evil wizard, formed eighteen rings to govern Middle Earth, the landmass setting for the LOTR. Unbeknownst to the rest, he also forged one supreme ring to rule them all. In the years that follow, Sauron waged a continental war during which he pursued total control of Middle Earth. Following his defeat and centuries later, the ring fell into the hands of a young hobbit, a fictional creature from LOTR. He alone is entrusted to return the ring to Mount Doom and drop it into the volcano where it will be destroyed, sealing Sauron’s fate and protecting Middle Earth from his powerful reach ever again. For the fictious cast of LOTR and readers alike, Mount Doom is a visceral reminder of the death and destruction that Sauron wrought, as well as a beacon of hope. The chance to see it in person, is for some, the opportunity of a lifetime.
This mountain not only stars in LOTR but also plays a prominent role in Māori mythology. It is said that during a blizzard on Mount Ngauruhoe, the Māori high priest, Ngatoroirangi, was attempting to reach the summit. Fearful of freezing to death, he prayed to his sisters in Hawaiki, the ancestral home of all Polynesians spread across the Pacific (Responsive, n.d.). Answering his call his sisters sent him flames from the North, lighting fires everywhere they touched, in White Island, Rotorua, Taupo, and more. Finally they reached Ngatoroirangi and burst into flame at his feet. It is this story which credits Ngatoroirangi for bringing volcanoes to Aotearoa, a gift to the land (Responsive, n.d.). So whether you call it Mount Ngauruhoe or Mount Doom, the lore is endless.
References;
“Mt. Ngauruhoe”. Tongariro National Parks Villages. N.d. (accessed June 8, 2024). https://www.nationalpark.co.nz/mt-ngauruhoe