TAUPO  , a township of

East Taupo county, New Zealand, in the south-west of the Hot Spring district of North Island . It attracts many visitors both as a health resort and on account of the magnificent scenery and remarkable volcanic phenomena of the surrounding district . It lies on the north-east shore of lake Taupo, the largest lake in the island, having an extreme length of 26 m. and a shore-line, not counting minor indentations, of about too m., and lying 1200 ft. above sea-level . The river Waikato, which reaches the west coast not far from Manukau Harbour near Auckland, here leaves the lake . The district abounds in geysers, springs, mud volcanoes and other phenomena; some of the waters have petrifying powers, and some of the springs are vividly coloured . On the road running N.E. to Rotorua (56 m.) are the resorts of Weirakei m.) and Ateamuri (31 m.) . Lake Taupo is finely situated, hills rising over 2000 ft. immediately from the shores, while the mountains of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, an active volcano, and Ruapehu, a snow-clad peak, back the view to the south and mark the limit of the great volcanic line which extends 16o m. north-westward to White Island in the Bay of Plenty . The upper Waikato enters the lake from the south near Tokaano, where there is another collection of springs, &c . The river forms several fine falls and rapids below the lake .