Lake Mahinapua
Encyclopedia
Lake Mahinapua is a shallow lake
on the West Coast
of New Zealand
's South Island
. It is roughly 10km south of Hokitika
and near the small town of Ruatapu
. It was formerly a coastal lagoon
, but the buildup of coastal dune
s made it an inland lake roughly 500 m from the Tasman Sea
coastline.
In 1907, the Lake Mahinapua Scenic Reserve was established to protect the land around the lake, and a number of walking tracks run through this area. Other activities that take place around the lake are picnicking, camping, and various water-based activities. Species of birds such as black swan
s and grey
and mallard ducks live around the lagoon, and the surrounding bush provides a habitat for species such as parakeet
s and tui
.
State Highway 6
passes between the lake and sea on its route between Hokitika and Ross
. The Ross Branch railway also once ran past the lake; it opened to Ruatapu on 9 November 1906, was extended to Ross on 1 April 1909, and closed on 24 November 1980.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
on the West Coast
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
of New Zealand
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...
. It is roughly 10km south of Hokitika
Hokitika, New Zealand
Hokitika is a township in the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island, south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River. According to the 2006 census, the usually resident population of the Hokitika urban area was 3,078, a decrease of 12 people since 2001. A further 828...
and near the small town of Ruatapu
Ruatapu, New Zealand
Ruatapu is the name of a small town in the Westland District of the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island. Its name comes from a figure in Māori tradition named Ruatapu. The town is located to the west of Lake Mahinapua and is 12km southwest of Hokitika and 14km northeast of Ross. ...
. It was formerly a coastal lagoon
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
, but the buildup of coastal dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
s made it an inland lake roughly 500 m from the Tasman Sea
Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
coastline.
In 1907, the Lake Mahinapua Scenic Reserve was established to protect the land around the lake, and a number of walking tracks run through this area. Other activities that take place around the lake are picnicking, camping, and various water-based activities. Species of birds such as black swan
Black Swan
The Black Swan is a large waterbird, a species of swan, which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. The species was hunted to extinction in New Zealand, but later reintroduced. Within Australia they are nomadic, with erratic migration patterns dependent upon climatic...
s and grey
Grey Duck
Grey Duck may refer to:* Grey Teal, a duck found in New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands* Pacific Black Duck, usually called the Grey Duck in New Zealand, a duck found in Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and isalnds in the southwestern Pacific* Patagonian...
and mallard ducks live around the lagoon, and the surrounding bush provides a habitat for species such as parakeet
Parakeet
Parakeet is a term for any one of a large number of unrelated small to medium sized species of parrot, that generally have long tail feathers...
s and tui
Tui (bird)
The tui is an endemic passerine bird of New Zealand. It is one of the largest members of the diverse honeyeater family....
.
State Highway 6
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
passes between the lake and sea on its route between Hokitika and Ross
Ross, New Zealand
Ross is a small town located on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island.It lies 27 kilometres south-west of Hokitika and 46 kilometres north-east of Harihari...
. The Ross Branch railway also once ran past the lake; it opened to Ruatapu on 9 November 1906, was extended to Ross on 1 April 1909, and closed on 24 November 1980.
External links
- Mahinapua Scenic Reserve at the Department of Conservation