Lake Wakatipu

The third largest lake in New Zealand (after the Lake Taupo and Lake Te Anau )

The Lake Wakatipu is the third largest lake in New Zealand and after the Lake Te Anau is the second largest in the South Island.

The lake is located in the extreme southwest of the Otago region, directly on the border with Southland. With a length of about 80 kilometers of Lake Wakatipu is the longest lake in the country. It is located at an altitude of 310 m above sea level. Sea level at the foot of the Southern Alps, is up to 380 m deep at the deepest point and is thus partially below sea level. The most striking feature of the Lake Wakatipu is its unusual S-shape. At the northern end of the lake the Dart River forms the inflow, then the lake is about 30 kilometers long south before he abruptly turns to the northeast. After another 20 kilometers, he strikes again to its original direction to the south where it ends after 30 kilometers near the village of Kingston.

The Kawarau River, which connects to the height of Queenstown on the lake and continues to the east, forms the outlet of the lake. In the extremely deep lake rises and falls, the water due to the seiche, which is particularly strong, especially in alpine lakes, at regular intervals of about 200 mm.

Due to its extremely scenic scenic location at the foot of the Remarkables, the area around the lake is gaining more and more importance for tourism. The beauty and solitude of the lake but is threatened by steady population growth and ever- growing crowds. The area around the lake serves as a center of extreme sports such as bungee jumping. Here there is an extensive ski areas, hiking trails and the lake runs regularly the TSS Earnslaw, an old steamboat.

The Lake Wakatipu is a station of the Southern Scenic Route.

Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables

The shores of Lake Wakatipu

New Zealand stamp of 1898. 's Name here wrongly spelled Lake Wakitipu was corrected in later editions.