Lake Rotomahana

Lake Rotomahana
Black swan on Lake Rotomahana
Location	North Island
Coordinates	38°16′S 176°27′E / 38.267°S 176.450°E / -38.267; 176.450Coordinates: 38°16′S 176°27′E / 38.267°S 176.450°E / -38.267; 176.450
Lake type	crater lake
Primary outflows	none
Basin countries	New Zealand
Max. length	6.2 km (3.9 mi)
Max. width	2.8 km (1.7 mi)
Surface area	8.0 km2 (3.1 sq mi)
Average depth	51 m (167 ft)
Max. depth	112.4 m (369 ft)
Surface elevation	337 m (1,106 ft)
References

Lake Rotomahana is an 800-hectare (2,000-acre)lake in northern New Zealand, located 20 kilometres to the south-east of Rotorua. It is immediately south-west of the dormant volcano Mount Tarawera, and its geography was substantially altered by a major 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera. Along with the mountain, it lies within the Okataina caldera.

Before the 1886 eruption, only two small lakes were present in the current lake's basin. Following the eruption, a number of craters filled over the course of 15 years to form today's Lake Rotomahana. It is the most recently formed larger natural lake in New Zealand, and the deepest in the Rotorua district. The lake's northern shore lies close to the 39 metres (128 ft) lower Lake Tarawera, separated by less than 700 metres (2,300 ft) of terrain that is mostly material from the 1886 eruption. Lake Rotomahana has no natural outlet, and its water level varies by about one meter in response to rainfall and evaporation.

The lake is a wildlife refuge, with all hunting of birds prohibited. A healthy population of black swan inhabits the lake, and there are efforts underway to ensure the lake's largest island, Patiti Island, is kept pest-free. There is no public access to the lake.

A boat cruise on the lake, visiting hydrothermal features on the lake's shore, is available as an additional extra from the Waimangu Volcanic Valley tourism operation.

The Pink and White Terraces were a natural wonder on the shores of the lake before the 1886 eruption. They were considered to be the eighth wonder of the natural world and were New Zealand's most famous tourist attraction during the mid 19th century, but were buried or destroyed by the eruption.

Scientists rediscovered the lower tiers of the Pink and White Terraces on the lake bed at a depth of 60 metres (200 ft) in 2011.