Lake McKerrow / Whakatipu Waitai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake McKerrow / Whakatipu Waitai |
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Jetboat ride along Lake McKerrow
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 Lake McKerrow / Whakatipu Waitai
Location in South Island
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| Location | Fiordland, Southland District, Southland Region, South Island |
| Coordinates | 44°26′S 168°03′E / 44.433°S 168.050°E |
| Primary inflows | Hollyford River |
| Primary outflows | Hollyford River |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Surface area | 28 km2 (11 sq mi) |
Lake McKerrow / Whakatipu Waitai is a beautiful lake located in the southwest part of New Zealand's South Island. It sits at the northern end of a wild and scenic area called Fiordland. This lake stretches for about 15 kilometers (9 miles) and covers an area of 28 square kilometers (11 square miles).
Contents
What is Lake McKerrow?
Lake McKerrow is a long, narrow lake that runs from the southeast to the northwest. It is an important part of the Hollyford River system. The Hollyford River flows into the lake and then flows out of it again.
Connected to the Hollyford River
The Hollyford River is a major river in this region. Lake McKerrow is one of two lakes found in the lower part of the Hollyford River system. The other lake is Lake Alabaster.
A very famous walking path, called the Hollyford Track, follows the eastern side of Lake McKerrow for its entire length. This track is one of New Zealand's most popular places for tramping, which is like long-distance hiking.
A Special Kind of Lake
Even though it's called a lake, Lake McKerrow is actually a special type of fiord. A fiord is a long, narrow inlet of the sea, usually with steep sides, created by a glacier. Over a very long time, dirt and sand built up at one end of this fiord. This sediment blocked it off from the Tasman Sea. Now, the sea is about three kilometers (1.9 miles) away from the northern end of the lake.
The Alpine Fault and Earthquakes
An important geological feature called the Alpine Fault runs right through Lake McKerrow. The Alpine Fault is a very long crack in the Earth's crust. It is where two large pieces of the Earth's surface, called tectonic plates, meet and move against each other. This movement can cause earthquakes.
Scientists from GNS Science (a New Zealand research organization) and the University of Nevada, Reno have studied the layers of mud and sand at the bottom of Lake McKerrow. These layers hold clues about past earthquakes. By looking at the sediments from the last 24 earthquakes caused by the Alpine Fault near the lake, they have found a very regular pattern of how often these earthquakes happen. This research helps us understand more about how earthquakes work.
Its Special Name
The official name of the lake is Lake McKerrow / Whakatipu Waitai. This dual name was made official after a special agreement in 1998. This agreement, called the Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998, was between the New Zealand government and the Ngāi Tahu people. The Ngāi Tahu are the main Māori tribe (or iwi) in the South Island. The agreement recognized their historical connection to the land and their traditional names for places. "Whakatipu Waitai" is the Māori name for the lake.
