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Taupo Volcano - John Seach
North Island, New Zealand
8.82 S 176.00 E
summit elevation 760 m
Caldera
Taupo Volcano is large and has many vents, most of which are now under Lake Taupo. The volcano makes up only the northern half of the lake and a small surrounding area.
Taupo volcano is not a mountain because the eruptions have been explosive and formed a caldera. Rhyolite accounts for about 98% of all erupted material at Taupo. Most of the rhyolite has been erupted explosively as pumice and ash.
Eruptions of basalt are rare at Taupo volcano. Some small basaltic cones about 500 m across and 200 m high have been formed.
Examples are seen around the lake shoreline near Acacia Bay.
Taupo Volcano Eruptions
In 186 AD Taupo erupted with the fifth largest caldera forming eruption in history. 26,500 years ago, (largest eruption) 150,000 years ago, 330,000 years ago.