Lakes of Rotorua

The region around the city of Rotorua, in New Zealand's North Island, contains several lakes. From biggest to smallest, these are Lake Rotorua, Lake Tarawera, Lake Rotoiti, Lake Rotoma, Lake Okataina, Lake Rotoehu, Lake Rotomahana, Lake Rerewhakaaitu, Lake Rotokakahi (Green Lake), Lake Okareka and Lake Tikitapu (Blue lake). There are also four smaller lakes: Lake Okaro/Ngakaro, Lake Rotokawa (not to be confused with Lake Rotokawa near Taupo), Lake Rotokawau and Lake Rotongata (Mirror Lake). Most of the lakes have formed due to volcanic activity. The region is part of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, the world's most active area of explosive silicic volcanic activity in geologically recent time.

Lake Rotorua is the largest of the lakes with Lake Tarawera close behind, it is also the second largest lake in the North Island by surface area and covers 79.8 square kilometers. With a main depth of only 10 metres it is smaller than Lake Tarawera by water volume. The lake lies within a large volcanic caldera in the Taupo Volcanic Zone. After an eruption, the magma chamber underneath the volcano collapsed. The depression left behind is the Rotorua Caldera. Mokoia Island, is close to the middle of the lake and is the setting for the legendary tale of Hinemoa and Tutanekai.

Lake Tarawera is the second largest lake in the rotorua caldera with a surface area of 51.0 km². It is filled by sources from the nearby Blue and Green lakes (or Lake Rotokakahi and Lake Tikitapu). Lake Tarawera is home to various eels and rainbow trout. During the summer the lake is popular for both fishing and water sports, and also camping as there a number of hot water beaches. Lake Tarawera's outflow is at its north end, into the Tarawera River, which flows further into the Pacific Ocean.

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