Lake Aviemore
Encyclopedia
Lake Aviemore or Mahi Tikumu is a man-made lake in New Zealand
's South Island
, part of the Waitaki
hydroelectric
scheme. Immediately upstream is Lake Benmore
and downstream Lake Waitaki
. Aviemore lies on both sides of the border between the Waimate
and Waitaki
districts.
It is part of the traditional boundary of the Canterbury
and Otago
regions, although, officially, the border has been moved southward to include the lake, as well as the entire northwestern portion of the Waitaki District
in the Canterbury Region. http://www.waitaki.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/5DD2BC27-EC9C-4E9C-A07D-22EE6F38C991/38699/COUNCILBOUNDARYMAP.jpg The Otematata settlement situated on State Highway 83 is just west of the lake, and was built in 1958 as a base for the construction of the Aviemore and Benmore Dams. Closer to the lake the old village Wharekuri which encompasses Aviemore was populous in the 1860s.
The Aviemore Dam
, completed in 1968, is the newest of the three dams on the Waitaki river. It is made out of both earth and concrete.
By continuing the sinuous course of the river after the lake, one encounters Parsons Rock, named after Reverend J.C. Andrew
(The Parson) who usually gave Christmas day sermon there. A story goes to say that stolen gold taken from the Wharekuri Hotel was hidden near Parsons Rock.The suspects were to be apprehended but no money was ever found by the authorities in the hiding place.
In both Lake Aviemore and Benmore, one can fish salmon and trout year round except in September. Two main events are held on Lake Aviemore, there is the Labour weekend Aviemore Classic Trailer yacht race and the Windsurfing Championships in January.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, part of the Waitaki
Waitaki River
The Waitaki River is a large river in the South Island of New Zealand, some 110 km long. It is the major river of the Mackenzie Basin.It is a braided river which flows through Lake Benmore, Lake Aviemore and Lake Waitaki. These are ultimately fed by three large glacial lakes, Pukaki, Tekapo,...
hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
scheme. Immediately upstream is Lake Benmore
Lake Benmore
Lake Benmore is a lake located in the South Island of New Zealand. It was artificially created in the 1960s by construction of Benmore Dam. The lake covers an area of approximately 75 km²...
and downstream Lake Waitaki
Lake Waitaki
Lake Waitaki is the smallest, oldest and farthest downstream of the three man-made lakes of the Waitaki hydroelectric project in New Zealand's South Island. It lies below lakes Aviemore and Benmore on the Waitaki River, close to the town of Kurow...
. Aviemore lies on both sides of the border between the Waimate
Waimate
WaimateUrban AreaPopulation:2,835 Extent:Territorial AuthorityName:Waimate District CouncilPopulation:7,206 Land area:3,582.19 km² Mayor:John ColesWebsite:...
and Waitaki
Waitaki District
The Waitaki district, in the Canterbury and Otago regions of New Zealand, straddles the traditional border between the two regions, the Waitaki River. It has a land area of 7,151.94 km² , divided 59.28% to Canterbury Region and 40.72% to Otago Region. It is the only district on the South...
districts.
It is part of the traditional boundary of the Canterbury
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
and Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
regions, although, officially, the border has been moved southward to include the lake, as well as the entire northwestern portion of the Waitaki District
Waitaki District
The Waitaki district, in the Canterbury and Otago regions of New Zealand, straddles the traditional border between the two regions, the Waitaki River. It has a land area of 7,151.94 km² , divided 59.28% to Canterbury Region and 40.72% to Otago Region. It is the only district on the South...
in the Canterbury Region. http://www.waitaki.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/5DD2BC27-EC9C-4E9C-A07D-22EE6F38C991/38699/COUNCILBOUNDARYMAP.jpg The Otematata settlement situated on State Highway 83 is just west of the lake, and was built in 1958 as a base for the construction of the Aviemore and Benmore Dams. Closer to the lake the old village Wharekuri which encompasses Aviemore was populous in the 1860s.
The Aviemore Dam
Aviemore Dam
The Aviemore Dam is a dam of the Waitaki River in New Zealand. Built from earth and concrete in the 1960s to dam Lake Aviemore, it is one of the major dams of Meridian Energy, and is used to power a hydroelectric power plant...
, completed in 1968, is the newest of the three dams on the Waitaki river. It is made out of both earth and concrete.
By continuing the sinuous course of the river after the lake, one encounters Parsons Rock, named after Reverend J.C. Andrew
John Chapman Andrew
John Chapman Andrew was a 19th century Member of Parliament in New Zealand.-Early life:Andrew was born at Whitby, North Yorkshire, England. His parents were James Andrew, an Anglican clergyman, and Jane Chapman, of the Chapman banking family...
(The Parson) who usually gave Christmas day sermon there. A story goes to say that stolen gold taken from the Wharekuri Hotel was hidden near Parsons Rock.The suspects were to be apprehended but no money was ever found by the authorities in the hiding place.
In both Lake Aviemore and Benmore, one can fish salmon and trout year round except in September. Two main events are held on Lake Aviemore, there is the Labour weekend Aviemore Classic Trailer yacht race and the Windsurfing Championships in January.