Steam rises from a geothermal plant in the Maroa caldera. The 16 x 25 km caldera formed sometime after 230,000 years ago in the NE corner of the larger Whakamaru caldera. The Maroa caldera was filled by at least 70 rhyolitic lava domes and flows. The latest dated eruption took place about 14,000 years ago at Puketarata. Large hydrothermal explosions have occurred during the Holocene, most recently about 1800 years ago at the time of a major eruption at the neighboring Taupo volcanic centre.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1986.

Copyrighted image used with permission. All Rights Reserved. Contact photographer for any usage requests.

Maroa