Lake Arapuni facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Arapuni |
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1928 photograph of the dam under construction
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 Lake Arapuni
Location in New Zealand
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| Location | North Island |
| Coordinates | 38°8′10″S 175°38′10″E / 38.13611°S 175.63611°E |
| Type | hydroelectric reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Waikato River |
| Primary outflows | Waikato River |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Surface area | 9 km2 (3.5 sq mi) |
| Residence time | 1 week |
| Settlements | Arapuni |
Lake Arapuni is a special lake in the North Island of New Zealand. It's not a natural lake! It's one of many artificial lakes created by people. These lakes are part of a big plan to make electricity using the Waikato River.
Lake Arapuni is about 65 km (40 mi) southeast of Hamilton. You can find it north of a place called Mangakino.
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What is Lake Arapuni?
Lake Arapuni is a reservoir. This means it's a large, man-made lake. It was built to hold water from the Waikato River. The main reason for building it was to help make hydroelectricity. Hydroelectricity is power made from moving water.
How Does it Work?
Imagine a giant wall built across a river. This wall is called a dam. The dam holds back a lot of water, creating a lake behind it. When water is released from the dam, it flows through special tunnels. This moving water spins giant machines called turbines. The turbines then create electricity!
Building the Arapuni Dam
The dam that created Lake Arapuni is near a small town called Arapuni. This town is at the northern end of the lake. The Arapuni Dam was very important because it was the first dam ever built on the Waikato River.
When Was it Built?
Building a dam is a huge project! The Arapuni Dam was finished in 1929. This was a big step for New Zealand. It helped the country start making its own clean energy. The lake itself covers an area of about 9 km2 (3.5 sq mi).
Why is Lake Arapuni Important?
Lake Arapuni plays a key role in New Zealand's power supply. It's part of a chain of lakes and dams on the Waikato River. Together, these dams produce a lot of the electricity that people in New Zealand use every day.
Clean Energy
Hydroelectricity is a type of renewable energy. This means it uses natural resources that can be replaced. Water from the river is always flowing, so it's a clean way to make power. It doesn't create pollution like burning fossil fuels.
