Lake Taupo

Lake Taupo is a lake situated on the North Island of New Zealand. With a perimeter of approximately 193 kilometres, a deepest point of 186 metres and a surface area of 616 square kilometres, Lake Taupo is the largest lake by surface area in the country. It is believed to be the result of a huge volcanic explosion (see supervolcanos) approximately 26,500 years ago, and makes a good example of a caldera lake. According to geological records, the volcano that created the lake has erupted 28 times in the last 27,000 years. The last eruption, which occurred in 181AD, was sufficantly large enough by ash-expulsion to turn the skies red over Rome and China, and went down as a matter of historical record. This eruption further expanded the lake.

The Waikato River runs from Lake Taupo to the western coast of the North Island, although it is believed to have formerly exited on the other side.

The town of Taupo is situated upon the north-eastern shore of the lake.