Lake Taupō is a large crater lake located in the caldera of the Taupō Volcano. With a surface area of 616 km2 (238 sq mi), it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, and the second largest freshwater lake by surface area in Oceania. The township of Taupo sits on the northen end and Turangi at the south. Lake Taupo is used for many outdoor events including NZ Ironman, the annual Round the Lake bike race, and is a favourite spot for boating, trout fishing and many other on-water activities.
Lake Taupō has a perimeter of approximately 193 km (120 mi) and a maximum depth of 186 m (610 ft). It is drained by the Waikato River (New Zealand's longest river). It is a noted trout fishery with stocks of introduced brown and rainbow trout.
Lake Taupō is in a caldera created mainly by a supervolcanic eruption which occurred approximately 25,600 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 Taupō, According to geological records, the volcano has erupted 29 times in the last 30,000 years. The most recent major eruption, was in approx 232 CE (232 AD) . Known as the Hatepe eruption, it is believed to have ejected 100 cubic kilometres of material, of which 30 cubic kilometres was ejected in a few minutes. This was one of the most violent eruptions in the last 5000 years and there appears to be a correlation, to within a few years, of a year in which the sky was red over Rome and China. The eruption devastated much of the North Island and further expanded the lake. Taupō's last known eruption occurred around 30 years later.
In current times, minor volcanic unrest began under the lake in May 2022 and continues as at Feb 2023. Small earthquakes and ground deformation are still being recorded at above background levels, and the NZ government agency which monitors earthquakes (GNS) has set a Volcanic Alert Level of 1 (the lowest).
The level of the lake is controlled by Mercury Energy, the owner of the eight hydroelectric dams on the Waikato River downstream of Lake Taupō, using gates built in 1940–41. The gates are used to reduce flooding, conserve water and ensure a minimum flow in the Waikato River. Be sure to visit the Aratiatia Dam to watch the water release over the first of the dams which occurs each day at 10am,12noon, 2pm (and 4pm in summer only).
From this vantage point you will look down the lake and see the three volcanoes Ruapehu, Nguarahoe and Tongariro. Be sure to visit my related cache Three Volcanoes (Volcanic Plateau) (GCRTC5) as you head south on the Desert Road.
TO LOG THIS CACHE
Include in your log a photo showing part of you, the lake and (optionally) your mode of transport to get to this point (e.g. shoes,scooter, bike, wheelchair)
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.