Lake Tekapo
The easternmost of the three central glacial lakes in Canterbury
The Lake Tekapo on the South Island of New Zealand, with an area of 83 km ², the largest lake in the Canterbury region. It represents the easternmost of the three major glacial lakes in the region dar. good twenty miles further west you come to the shores of Lake Pukaki slightly smaller, another twenty kilometers southwest finally reaching the Lake Ohau. The name of the lake is composed of the two derived from the Maori language terms " taka " ( German: sleeping mat ) and "po" ( German: night) together.
The Lake Tekapo is located entirely within the boundaries of the Mackenzie District, one of the most sparsely populated and highest administrative units of the Pacific state. Geographically, in the west bounded by the Southern Alps and to the east of the Two Thumbs Range region is commonly referred to as the Mackenzie Basin. Situated on the northern edge of this basin lake is characterized therefore by a - for New Zealand conditions - low wind speed and a low annual precipitation ( only 575mm ) from.
The one area of 82 km ² engaging Lake Tekapo is located at an altitude of about 700 meters above sea level and is fed by the Godley River formed by meltwater from glaciers, which the lake - gives a unique turquoise color - in connection with the finely polished bedrock. While the inflow of Lake Tekapo is located in the extreme north of the lake, the outflow, the Tekapo River is located at the other end of the water surface. The lake reaches a north-south extension of about 25 km, but the maximum east - west distance occupies only about six kilometers. The lake serves as a source for the small hydropower plant Waitaki. For this hydroelectric power plant, the water level of the lake was raised by a few meters.
On the south shore of the lake, very close to the drain, the largest settlement is located in the shore area, which bears the name of the lake. Here are also some tourist facilities, the lake made especially lately to an increasingly important tourism destination. International reputation and enjoys the direct vicinity of the lake also because of the very dark night sky ( almost) without influences of artificial lighting. Not least because something was built on the north of the town Mount John an astronomical observatory of the University of Canterbury ( "Mount John University Observatory ").
The first church in the area, the Church of the Good Shepherd (English: Church of the Good Shepherd ), was built in 1935 by architect RSD Harman from Christchurch and is probably one of the most photographed churches in New Zealand. Instead of a large altar, the church has a wide window, which can wander up to the striking mountain chain of the Southern Alps, the look of churchgoers across Lake Tekapo. Contrary to the information of many guide books, one of these peaks is Mount Cook ( Aoraki ), the highest mountain in New Zealand with 3754 meters, is the west of Lake Tekapo on the horizon beginning to explore many kilometers. It is located at the northern end of the filled from the Lake Pukaki glacier valley.
The Church of the Good Shepherd
View from Cowan 's Hill
View from the east
View from the south
View from the south at an altitude of