The production and equilibrium of tokamak plasmas with vertically elongated cross-sections are described. Axisymmetric instabilities, which are controlled by a passive feedback system, restrict the semiaxis ratio to less than 1.5. Both the appearance and growth times of these instabilities are theoretically predicted. Poloidal magnetic field oscillations are shown to confirm the plasma shape deduced from equilibrium calculations. The poloidal beta, central electron temperature and overall energy confinement time increase with increasing semi-axis ratio.