Lake Wakatipu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lake Wakatipu | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | South Island |
| Coordinates | |
| Primary sources | Dart River |
| Primary outflows | Kawarau River |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Max length | 80 km |
| Surface area | 291 km² |
| Average depth | 230 Metres (Average) |
| Max depth | 420 Metres |
| Surface elevation | 310 m |
| Islands | Pig Island & Pigeon Island |
| Settlements | Kingston, Queenstown |
Lake Wakatipu is an inland lake (finger lake) in the South Island of New Zealand. It is at , in the southwest corner of Otago, near its boundary with Southland.
With a length of 80 kilometres, it is New Zealand's longest lake, and, at 291 km², its third largest. It is at an altitude of 310 metres, towards the southern end of the Southern Alps. The general topography is a reversed "N" shape. The Dart River flows into the northern end, the lake then runs south for 30 kilometres before turning abruptly to the east. Twenty kilometres further along, it turns sharply to the south, reaching its southern end 30 kilometres further south, near Kingston.
The lake is drained by the Kawarau River, which flows out from the lake's Frankton Arm, 8km east of Queenstown. Queenstown is on the northern shore of the lake close to eastern end of its middle section. The lake is very deep, its floor being as low as 100 metres below sea level. It has a seiche of period 26.7 minutes which, in Queenstown Bay, causes the water level to rise and fall some 200 millimetres.[1]
Lake Wakatipu is renowned for its scenic beauty, being surrounded by mountains. The Remarkables mountain range lies along its southeastern edge. It is a popular venue for adventure tourism, with skifields, paragliding, bungy jumping and tramping tracks within easy reach. A vintage steamboat, the TSS Earnslaw regularly plies its waters. Several vineyards are nearby.
 Northern end |
 Near Walter Peak |
 Lake Wakatipu |
 View from Queenstown heights |
