Lake Ohakuri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Ohakuri |
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The lake from the crown of the dam
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 Lake Ohakuri
Location in North Island
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| Location | North Island |
| Coordinates | 38°25′22″S 176°07′32″E / 38.42273°S 176.125474°E |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Waikato River |
| Primary outflows | Waikato River |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Surface area | 12 km2 (4.6 sq mi) |
Lake Ohakuri is the biggest human-made lake in the Waikato River system in New Zealand. It covers about 12 square kilometers (that's like 1,200 rugby fields!). This lake was created to help make electricity for people.
Discover Lake Ohakuri
Lake Ohakuri is a special type of lake called a reservoir. A reservoir is like a giant storage tank for water. This water is used to power the Ohakuri hydroelectric power station. A hydroelectric power station uses the force of falling water to create electricity.
Building the Ohakuri Dam
The idea to build the Ohakuri Dam was approved in 1955. Construction started in 1956, and the dam was finished in 1960. It took about four years to build this huge structure!
After the dam was ready, the lake began to fill. This happened over 14 days in January and February of 1961. Imagine watching a giant area slowly fill up with water!
A Special Geothermal Area
When Lake Ohakuri was filled, it covered a large part of a unique place called Orakei Korako. This area is known for its amazing geothermal features. Geothermal means "earth heat." It's where hot water and steam come up from deep underground.
Sadly, about two-thirds of the Orakei Korako geothermal area was submerged by the new lake. This included two of the world's biggest geysers. Geysers are like natural fountains that shoot hot water and steam high into the air. These two famous geysers were called Minginui Geyser and Orakei Korako Geyser. Even though some parts were covered, Orakei Korako is still a very cool place to visit today!
