Lake Whangape

Not to be confused with Whangape Harbour in Northland.

Lake Whangape
Location of Lake Whangape
Location of Lake Whangape
Lake Whangape
Lake Whangape is in the Waikato region of the North Island.
LocationWaikato District, Waikato region, North Island
Coordinates37°28′S 175°03′E / 37.467°S 175.050°E / -37.467; 175.050
Lake typeriverine lake
Primary inflowsAwaroa Stream (NB a different stream, with the same name, further south, flows into Lake Waahi)
Primary outflowsWhangape Stream
Catchment area310 km2 (120 sq mi)
Basin countriesNew Zealand
Max. length7 km (4.3 mi)
Surface area1,450 ha (3,600 acres)
Average depth1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Max. depth2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Shore length129 km (18 mi)
Surface elevation5 m (16 ft)
IslandsMotukauere Is, Roaroa Is
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Whangape (also written as Wangape,[1] Whangapu,[2] or Whangapae)[3] is shallow, supertrophic,[4] lateral[5] and the second largest lake (after Lake Waikare) in the lower Waikato River basin in New Zealand.[4] One source said the name translated to 'a large sheet of water',[6] another that it was a chief's name.[7]

From the 1860s the catchment has lost most of its forest cover and the lake has changed from clear and rich in aquatic vegetation to a murky, algal lake.

  1. ^ "A geological survey by Ferdinand von Hochstetter, 1859". www.aucklandcity.govt.nz. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  2. ^ Parliament, New Zealand (1913). Parliamentary Debates: House of Representatives.
  3. ^ "MERCER (Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, 1918-02-12)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  4. ^ a b "Raglan County Council". Waikato Argus. 1912-05-09. p. 2. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  5. ^ Mosley, Paul. "Geomorphology and Hydrology of Lakes" (PDF).
  6. ^ "Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, 1869. [electronic resource]". rsnz.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  7. ^ "WAIKATO. THREATENED FIGHT AMONGST THE MAORIS AT RANGIRIRI. (Daily Southern Cross, 1866-02-28)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 2017-11-04.