Lord of the Rings' 'Mount Doom' May Erupt

Mordor's "Mount Doom" may be about to erupt for the first time since 2007. Lake temperature and volcanic gas output have spiked in recent weeks at New Zealand's Mount Ruapehu, featured in the Lord of the Rings movies, leading officials to raise the volcanic alert level from "moderate" to "heightened unrest," reports the Guardian. The department of conservation is warning hikers to stay away from the summit, but an official tells the New Zealand Herald that no surrounding towns are at risk. (More New Zealand stories.)