1. Udivitrand landscape
central North Island, New Zealand

This landscape occurs within the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) on the central North Island of New Zealand. Taupo caldera volcano within the TVZ is the most frequently active rhyolitic volcano on Earth. Much of the native podocarp/ hardwood forest was destroyed by the c. 233 AD Taupo eruption, which produced a violent pyroclastic flow that spread over an area of 20,000 sq km in ~7 minutes. The forest regenerated within 100-200 years.

Current land uses include dairy, sheep and beef production, and plantation forest (seen in background). Mean annual precipitation is ~43-47 inches (1100-1200 mm).

Reference: Prof. D.J. Lowe, Univ. of Waikato, Hamilton, NZ