Lake Alexandrina (New Zealand)

Lake Alexandrina
A view of Lake Alexandrina from the top of nearby Mount John
A view of Lake Alexandrina from the top of nearby Mount John
Location of Lake Alexandrina
Location of Lake Alexandrina
Lake Alexandrina
LocationMackenzie District, Canterbury region, South Island
Coordinates43°57′S 170°27′E / 43.950°S 170.450°E / -43.950; 170.450
TypeMesotrophic
Basin countriesNew Zealand
Max. length7.2 kilometres (4.5 mi)
Max. width0.9 kilometres (0.56 mi)
Surface area640 hectares (1,600 acres)
Max. depth27 metres (89 ft)
Residence time4 years
Surface elevation732 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]

  1. ^ New Zealand journal of marine and freshwater research. Dept. of Scientific and Industrial Research. 1984. p. 219. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  2. ^ "Lake Manager's Handbook: Land-Water Interactions. June 2002". Government of New Zealand. Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Top Secret – Lake Alexandrina". AA Directions Magazine. March 2009. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  4. ^ Orman, Tony (September 1994). 21 Great New Zealand Trout Waters. Stackpole Books. pp. 109–111. ISBN 978-0-8117-2567-5. Retrieved 4 March 2011.