Lake Rotokākahi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake RotokākahiGreen Lake |
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 Lake Rotokākahi
Green Lake Location in North Island
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| Location | Bay of Plenty, North Island |
| Coordinates | 38°13′S 176°20′E / 38.217°S 176.333°E |
| Type | crater lake |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Max. length | 4.3 km (2.7 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.7 km (1.1 mi) |
| Surface area | 4.5 km2 (1.7 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 17.7 m (58 ft) |
| Max. depth | 32.0 m (105.0 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 394 m (1,293 ft) |
Lake Rotokākahi or Green Lake, is one of four small lakes lying between Lake Rotorua and Lake Tarawera in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. The others are Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake), Lake Okareka, and Lake Okataina. All lie within the Okataina caldera, along its western edge.
Named for its abundance of kākahi (freshwater mussels), the lake flows to Lake Tarawera via the Te Wairoa waterfalls. From the air the lake looks emerald green due to its shallow, sandy bottom. The lake is 394 metres above sea level and 24 metres below the level of the neighbouring Lake Tikitapu.
The lake remains under the authority of Te Arawa iwi, Tūhourangi, and remains largely undisturbed as it is considered to be tapu (sacred).
Motutawa
This small island in the lake is notable as the site of the 1822 slaughter of a part of Ngāpuhi, that led to the revenge raid of Hongi Hika in 1823—and also as the resting place of the bones of Hinemoa.
The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "tawa tree island" for Motutawa.
