Major structures, lava types, and vent locations at the Rotorua and Okataina volcanic centers within the northern Taupo Volcanic Zone. Taupo caldera is a broad depression mostly filled by Lake Taupo. The volcanic center is associated with violent explosive eruptions and has few effusive lava domes.
Volcanic deposits indicate lakes are common in the caldera.
The ignimbrite extends in all direction from Lake Taupo for about 80 km and covers and area of 20,000 square km. The AD 186 eruption at Taupo is considered to be the most violent and explosive known. Ash was distributed over an extremely large area. 50 km downwind the deposit is 1 m thick. New Zealand was not inhabited at the time of the eruption.