Lake Mahinapua
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Lake Mahinapua is a shallow lake on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is roughly 10km south of Hokitika and near the small town of Ruatapu. It was formerly a coastal lagoon, but the buildup of coastal dunes made it an inland lake roughly 500m from the Tasman Sea coastline.
In 1907, the Lake Mahinapua Scenic Reserve was established to protect the land around the lake, and a number of walking tracks run through this area. Other activities that take place around the lake are picnicking, camping, and various water-based activities. Species of birds such as black swans and grey and mallard ducks live around the lagoon, and the surrounding bush provides a habitat for species such as parakeets and tui.
State Highway 6 passes between the lake and sea on its route between Hokitika and Ross. The Ross Branch railway also once ran past the lake; it opened to Ruatapu on 9 November 1906, was extended to Ross on 1 April 1909, and closed on 24 November 1980.
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