Lake Rotomahana is a crater lake, previously the site of the once famous Pink and White Terraces. These amazing natural structures cascaded into remote Lake Rotomahana with its beautiful silica terraces attracting tourists from all over the globe. These terraces were once known as the eighth wonder of the world.
Lake Rotomahana is part of the volcanic fissure which is almost 16 kilometres long and erupted on 10 June 1886 along with Mt Tarawera. The eruption destroyed the terraces and emptied the lake, which was then much smaller. The depression later filled with water, forming a larger Lake Rotomahana and submerging any traces of the terraces.
The eruption also created the Waimangu geothermal field. When the Waimangu geyser was active, from 1900 to 1904, it was the largest in the world, sometimes reaching almost 500 metres.