A beautiful lake surrounded by nature’s beauty is actually the caldera of a supervolcano.
Taupō Volcano is a massive caldera (collapsed volcano) located beneath Lake Taupō in the central North Island of New Zealand.
It is one of the most active and powerful volcanic systems on Earth, responsible for some of the largest eruptions in history.
A supervolcano is a volcano that produces eruptions with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 8, ejecting over 1,000 cubic kilometers of material.
Taupō’s eruptions have dramatically reshaped New Zealand’s landscape and affected global climate. The entire Lake Taupō (616 km²) is the caldera of this massive volcano.
One of the major eruptions of Taupō Volcano is the Oruanui Eruption, which occurred around 25,500 years ago. It was the largest in 70,000 years. The volcano released 1,170 km³ of volcanic material (50x more than the 1883 Krakatoa eruption) and covered much of the North Island in ash and reshaped the land.
It created the caldera (volcanic crater) that later filled with water to form Lake Taupō.
Interestingly, Taupō is still an active volcano and is closely monitored by a group of scientists. Over 700 small earthquakes were recorded beneath Lake Taupō between 2022 to 2023, indicating magma movement.
GeoNet, New Zealand’s geological hazard monitoring system, tracks activity closely for signs of potential eruptions. While a major eruption is unlikely in the near future, Taupō is still classified as active and capable of future eruptions.
However, several travellers who have visited the lake were left mesmerised by its beauty as they shared their experiences on TripAdvisor forum.
One person commented: “We have the fortune of being able to travel quite a lot, having have seen many places over the years, and we feel comfortable saying that Lake Taupo is one of our very favourite (if not our very favorite) lakes in the world.
“It has scale, beauty, lakeside drives, a small but functional lakeside community, fantastic fishing and just enough restaurants, hotels and activity to create a very special location to visit.”
A second person wrote: “Imagine a stunning lake surrounded by breathtaking views and delightful restaurants just waiting for you to explore.
“A quick 10-minute drive takes you to the spectacular Huka Falls. With gorgeous beaches lining the shores and refreshingly pleasant waters inviting you for a swim, this is the perfect getaway spot for adventure and relaxation.”
A third user shared: “Being landmark of Taupo, the lake was very beautiful spread over having clean water good for swimming along with good pathways, seating arrangements and viewing spots. Many motels, eateries, shops, bushes, grounds and open places nearby made it more attractive.”
