| Lake Te Anau | |
|---|---|
| Māori: Te Ana-au | |
 Lake Te Anau | |
 | |
  Lake Te Anau | |
 Lake Te Anau | |
| Location | Southland District, Southland Region, South Island |
| Coordinates | 45°12′S 167°48′E / 45.200°S 167.800°E |
| Primary inflows | Eglinton River, Clinton River, Worsley River, Glaisnock River, Wapiti River, Doon River, McKenzie Burn, Upukerora River |
| Primary outflows | Waiau River |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Max. length | 65 km (40 mi) |
| Surface area | 344 km2 (133 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 168.8 m (554 ft) |
| Max. depth | 425 m (1,394 ft) |
| Water volume | 58.06 km3 (13.93 cu mi) |
| Surface elevation | 210 m (690 ft) |
| Settlements | Te Anau |
Lake Te Anau (Māori: Te Ana-au)[1] is in the southwestern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. The lake covers an area of 344 km2 (133 sq mi), making it the second-largest lake by surface area in New Zealand (after Lake Taupō) and the largest in the South Island. It is the second largest lake in Australasia by fresh water volume.[2] The main body of the lake runs north-south, and is 65 km in length. Three large fiords form arms to the lake on its western flank: North Fiord, Middle Fiord and South Fiord. These are the only inland fiords that New Zealand has, the other 14 are out on the coast. Several small islands lie in the entrance to Middle Fiord, which forks partway along its length into northwest and southwest arms. The surface of the lake is at an altitude of 210 m. It has a maximum depth of 425 m,[3] so much of its bed lies below sea level, with the deepest part of the lake being 215 metres below sea level.
Several rivers feed the lake, of which the most important is the Eglinton River, which joins the lake from the east, opposite the entrance to North Fiord. The outflow is the Waiau River, which flows south for several kilometres into Lake Manapouri. The town of Te Anau lies at the south-eastern corner of the lake, close to the outflow.
Most of the lake is within Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site, the latter of which was officially recognised internationally in 1990. Other than the Te Anau township, the only human habitation close to the lake is the farming settlement of Te Anau Downs, close to the mouth of the Eglinton River. Between these two settlements the land is rolling hill country, but elsewhere the land is mountainous, especially along its western shore, where the Kepler and Murchison Mountains rise 1,400 m above the surface of the lake.[citation needed]
Lake Te Anau was important for the Ngāi Tahu iwi[a] in pre-European times as the area was a traditional stopping point on their trails between the east and west coasts of the South Island of New Zealand, where they obtained food and resources. The lake was first discovered by European explorers Charles Naim and William Stephen in 1852.
Two New Zealand Great Walks start at the lake. The Milford Track starts at the northern tip of the lake and the Kepler Track starts and ends at the south tip of the lake at the Waiau River.
- ^ Esler, Lloyd (11 November 2022). "Te Anau - a name with a misty history". Stuff. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Lakes in New Zealand". Ministry for the Environment. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008.
- ^ "Lake levels". Meridian Energy. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
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