Lake Rotokawau (Bay of Plenty)

Lake Rotokawau is a small volcanic lake 4.1 km (2.5 mi) east of Lake Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. The name is also used for lakes in the Kaipara District (Poutu Peninsula),[1] Chatham Islands,[2] on Aupouri Peninsula[3] and near Lake Waikare in Waikato.[4] Access is via Lake Rotokawau Road, from SH30 at Tikitere (Hell's Gate). The lake is owned and managed by Ngāti Rangiteaorere.[5]

Lake Rotokawau
Aerial view of Lake Rotokawau in 2018
Lake Rotokawau
LocationBay of Plenty, North Island
Coordinates38.07331°S 176.37935°E / -38.07331; 176.37935
Typemaar lake
Primary inflowsWaimata Stream
Primary outflowsWaiohewa Stream
Catchment area2.23 km2 (0.86 sq mi)
Basin countriesNew Zealand
Surface area0.52 km2 (0.20 sq mi)
Average depth43.7 m (143 ft)
Max. depth74 m (243 ft)
Surface elevation320 m (1,050 ft)

Lake Rotokawau is a small, oligotrophic lake; the best example of what many deep Rotorua lakes were once like. Koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis), banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus), long-finned eel (Anguilla dieffenbachia), short-finned eel (Anguilla australis), smelt (Retropinna retropinna) and common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) live in the lake.[5]

The lake is a maar lake,[6][7] formed by an explosion about 4,000 years ago, leaving cliffs of up to 90 m (300 ft) around the lake. The local rocks are rhyolite and pumice, with areas of alluvial sand and silt. The catchment is roughly 65% forested and 25% in agriculture. The lake has one major inflow, the Waimata Stream, on the south side and also small geothermal springs on the north-west shore. The lake discharges via groundwater to the Waiohewa Stream, near Tikitere.[5]

References
  1. "Lake Rotokawau (Pöuto) Management Plan" (PDF). Northland Regional Council.
  2. "Lake Rotokawau, Chatham Islands – NZ Topo Map". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  3. "Lake Rotokawau, Northland". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  4. "Lake Rotokawau, Waikato – NZ Topo Map". NZ Topo Map. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  5. Lisa Pearson, David Hamilton, Chris Hendy (July 2011). "Lake Rotokawau: Water quality and sediment study" (PDF). University of Waikato.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. "R". www.geomarine.org.nz. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  7. Bruce W Hayward (July 2019). "The Campaign to Save Crater Hill Continues" (PDF).
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