Its eastern arm is separated from Lake Tikitapu by a lava dam generated during a rhyolitic eruption, at the south-western margins of the Ōkataina Caldera now dated at 15,635 ± 412 cal.yr BP,.

[5]: 60 The lake is classified as mesotrophic,[5]: 10  with moderate productivity and water quality, but has not been assessed recently.

[5]: 59  During early European settlement Kaiteriria on the southern lake shore was a base for armed constabulary.

[5]: 60  The lake has been under the authority of the Te Arawa iwi, Tūhourangi and Ngati Tumatawera since 1948, when there was disturbance of the tapu,[5]: ii, 61  and remains largely undisturbed[8] This small island in the lake is notable as the site of the 1822 slaughter of a part of Ngāpuhi, as an act of vengeance for relatives killed by the same Ngapuhi warriors in Te Totara, Thames.

[5]: 59  The island was the main historic stronghold of Tuhourangi/Ngati Wahiao,[5]: 59  and tradition has it as the resting place of the bones of Hinemoa.