What does a volcano with human rights look like from space, surrounded by the "Goblin Forest"? (photo)

A satellite image has captured the snow-capped peak of a sacred volcano in New Zealand, surrounded by thousands of twisted, goblin-like trees, reports LiveScience.

This refers to Mount Taranaki, a stratovolcano located on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. It stands at 2,518 meters above sea level, making it the second highest peak in the country after Mount Ruapehu, which reaches 2,797 meters. Mount Ruapehu was used as the backdrop for Mount Doom in the "Lord of the Rings" films.

The perfect dark green ring visible in the image around the mountain is a forest that extends for 19 km. The Egmont National Park is primarily home to two species of large evergreen trees: rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) and kamahi (Pterophylla racemosa).

A section of the forest featuring kamahi trees, which grow closer to the peak of the volcano, is referred to as the "Goblin Forest." This nickname was given due to the distorted shapes of the trees, which deform as they grow through the petrified remains of other trees destroyed by volcanic eruptions. The tree canopies are also draped in hanging moss, giving the forest an eerie appearance.

Previously, the New Zealand government granted Mount Taranaki the same legal rights as a human being. This decision was made because the mountain holds sacred status among local Māori tribes, who regard the volcano as their ancestor and a family member.

Mount Taranaki is also known for its shape—a nearly perfect cone, with the exception of small remnants of two extinct volcanoes located on one of its slopes.

However, the mountain has not always appeared this way; its shape has changed dramatically over time. Research has shown that the above-ground portion of the volcano has undergone 16 significant deformations during past eruptions. The mountain itself formed approximately 135,000 years ago.

The last major eruption occurred around 200 years ago. Researchers estimate that there is a 30-50% chance of another eruption happening within the next 50 years, which could affect over 100,000 people.

As a reminder, mysterious forests have been discovered at the bottom of a hellish pit in China. Researchers believe that these ancient groves may hide previously unknown species to science—only time will tell if this is true.