How do volcanoes form calderas after a very large eruption?

During a large explosive eruption, a magma chamber can lose enough support that the volcano's summit collapses into the emptied space below. This collapse creates a broad depression called a caldera, which is often much larger than a typical crater. Famous examples include Crater Lake in Oregon and the Yellowstone caldera in the United States. Calderas can later fill with water, lava, or new domes of magma. They are important because they often indicate a volcano capable of very large eruptions in the past.