Aotearoa Cam

Week 7

4 May 2008

BLUE VIEWS OF LAKE TAUPO

Lake Taupo has a perimeter of approximately 193 kilometres and a surface area of

616 square kilometres, making it the largest lake by surface area in the country with its

deepest point being 186 metres. The lake is drained by the Waikato River, while its main

tributaries are the Waitahanui River, the Tongariro River and the Tauranga-Taupo River.

The lake lies in a caldera which was created by a huge volcanic eruption thousands of years

ago. It was the largest eruption known as Oruanui that caused several hundred square

kilometres of surrounding land to collapse which formed the caldera. The Hatepe eruption

was the most violent, not only devastating much of the North Island, but its ash also turned

the sky red over Rome and China!

When we passed through Taupo earlier this year in January, it was a cloudy and very

humid day - unfortunately not the greatest weather to capture

the spendour of Lake Taupo

Sonskyn, this is for you .........

Quote for the week

Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still - Dorathea Lange

Public dustbins reflecting 2 attactions Lake Taupo is known for .....

views of Mt Ruapehu and trout fishing

A cloud covered Lake Taupo

The Australian Black Swan, Cygnus atratus, was introduced to New Zealand in

1864 as an ornamental waterfowl

The lake against forest plantations as background. Taupo is located in the centre

of New Zealand's largest forest plantation resource

Motutaiko Island which lies 3.4 kilometres off the south-eastern shore of Lake Taupo

Yet another view of the lake

Just past Turangi is a lookout point with views over Lake Taupo

More views of Lake Taupo

Lake Rotoaira lies 20 minutes south west of Turangi. It is a relativly small

and shallow lake situated between Lake Taupo and Mount Tongariro

Lake Rotoaira is a privately owned lake with a large population of rainbow trout.

Mount Tongariro is behind, covered with cloud