Volcano erupts in 'Lord of the Rings' park

A New Zealand volcano erupted with a brief blast of dark ash Wednesday, canceling flights but causing no significant damage. School children and dozens of other hikers who were walking on trails along the mountain's base were safe.

The eruption of Mount Tongariro, its second in less than four months, sent a dark ash plume about 1.9 miles into the sky. Authorities issued a no-fly alert above the mountain located in the sparsely populated area of central North Island.

Tongariro National Park, which has three active volcanoes, was the backdrop for many scenes in "The Lord of the Rings" movies.