Lake Alexandrina | |
---|---|
Location | Mackenzie District, Canterbury region, South Island |
Coordinates | 43°57′S 170°27′E / 43.950°S 170.450°E |
Type | Mesotrophic |
Basin countries | New Zealand |
Max. length | 7.2 kilometres (4.5 mi) |
Max. width | 0.9 kilometres (0.56 mi) |
Surface area | 640 hectares (1,600 acres) |
Max. depth | 27 metres (89 ft) |
Residence time | 4 years |
Surface elevation | 732 m (2,402 ft)[1] |
Lake Alexandrina (Māori: Whakatukumoana) is a lake located in the Mackenzie Basin of New Zealand's South Island. It lies immediately to the west of the much larger Lake Tekapo and further to the east of Lake Pukaki, located to the north of Lake Tekapo township. It is a shallow lake with distinct indications of glacial origin and is spring fed with an outlet on its eastern shore midway down the lake.[2][3] The outlet feeds into a smaller lake, Lake MacGregor before feeding into Lake Tekapo described as “Opaque and milky blue” in colour.[3] In the desert terrain of the Mackenzie Plains, Lake Alexandrina is considered as an “oasis of life”. Lake Alexandrina is a Wildlife Refuge and a delight to a fisherman, well documented for its brown and rainbow trout and salmon.[4]