Hatepe Hill (Lake Taupo)

Hatepe Hill (Lake Taupo)

With a surface area of 616 square kilometres (238 sq mi), Lake Taupo is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand. It has a perimeter of approximately 193 kilometres and a deepest point of 186 metres. Lake Taupo is formed in a caldera created by a supervolcanic eruption which occurred approximately 26,500 years ago. According to geological records, the volcano has erupted 28 times in the last 27,000 years. Taupo has been active for 300,000 years with a very large event known as the Oruanui eruption occurring 26,500 years ago. It was the world’s largest known eruption over the past 70,000 years, ejecting 1170 cubic kilometres of material and causing several hundred square kilometres of surrounding land to collapse and form the caldera. The caldera later filled with water to form Lake Taupo, eventually overflowing to cause a huge outwash flood. It is possible that the Lake Taupo event contributed to starting the Last Glacial Maximum.