Lake Te Anau

The second largest lake in New Zealand, the largest lake in the South Island

The Lake Te Anau is a lake in the southwest of New Zealand's South Island and a station on the Southern Scenic Route. His original Māori name was Te Ana -au, which means as much as the cave of swirling water.

The lake covers an area of 344 km ², making the front of the Lake Wakatipu is the largest lake in the South Island after Lake Taupo is the second largest lake in the country and. The main part of the lake is approximately 65 km in a north-south direction. On the west side is also close to three large fjords that - are referred to as North Fiord, Middle Fiord and South Fiord - according to their geographical location. At the entrance to Middle Fiord, there are some small islands. This fjord branches in the far west in a north-west and southwest arms. As the lake is at an altitude of 210 m above sea level, but it is partially up to 270 m deep, are parts of the water below sea level.

The lake is fed by several tributaries with fresh water. Among them, the Eglinton River is the largest, which flows from the east into the lake. From the southern end of the lake the Waiau River flows first in the more southern Lake Manapouri before the water in the Te Waewae Bay opens at the Foveaux Strait into the sea.

The largest part of the lake is located within the boundaries of Fiordland National Park, and thus within the Te Wahipounamu World Natural Heritage. Is the starting point of the Milford Track on the north coast. The east coast of the lake is by rolling texture. Here are also the only two settlements on the bank of the lake: The approximately 1,800 inhabitants Te Anau and the small farming village of Te Anau Downs. The areas on the other three sides of the lake are extremely mountainous, especially on the west bank, where the Kepler Mountains and Morchinson up to 1,400 m rise in altitude.

The surrounding area of the lake is the habitat for many protected and partially endangered animals, such as the Südinseltakahe. Many of these birds inhabit the secluded area between the fjords. Also on the west coast will find the large Aurora - cave system, the accessible part is used as the Te Anau Caves touristy.

The cave also gave the lake its name. This name owes its origin to a legend, the Māori. Then the chief Te Horo discovered a sacred spring and sharpened his wife one, she should not reveal its existence. However, the unfaithful wife, she showed her lover. Once his face reflected in the water of the spring, came out a torrent, the village was lost in the lake today.

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