Lakes

In the Taupo region there are 8 lakes that have trout living in them. These lakes are: Lake Taupo, Lake Otamangakau, Lake Rotoaira, Lake Kuratau, Lake Mowhanga and the A, B and C lakes of Hinemaia.

Lake Taupo

Lake Taupo is a caldera created following a huge volcanic eruption approximately 26,500 years ago. According to geological records, the volcano has erupted 28 times since then.

The most recent eruption, which occurred around 181 AD, is believed to have ejected 100 cubic kilometres of material, of which 30 cubic kilometres was ejected in the space of a few minutes. It is believed that the eruption column was 50 kilometres high, twice as high as the eruption column from Mount Saint Helens in 1980. This makes it one of the most violent eruptions in the last 5000 years.

Lake Taupo facts and figures
Full name of lake	Lake Taupo Nui a Tia
Length	46 km
Width	33km
Perimeter	193 km
Area	600 sq km (60,000ha, 150,000 acres)
Volume	59 cubic km
Height above sea level	Minimum (chart datum) 355.85 m
Maximum depth	186.84 m below chart datum
Average depth	110.0 m below chart datum
Surface temperature	Coldest winter 10.6º. Summer average 18ºC (up to 25ºC in shallows in summer)

Lake Rotoaira

Lake Rotoaira is one of the few privately owned lakes in New Zealand being administered by the Lake Rotoaira Trust on behalf of its owners. It is a small lake that covers 13km². It is located to the north of the broad volcanic dome of Mt. Tongariro and is naturally drained by the Pouto Stream into the Tongariro River. An access permit from the trust must be held by those using the lake for fishing or similar activities.

Other lakes

All the remaining 6 lakes are man-made features developed by damming rivers in order to create storage reservoirs for water used in hydro-power schemes. Lake A of Hinemaia was the first to be created in the early 1950's which supplied power locally. After the National Grid scheme was established the remaining lakes were created between the 1960's -1980's.