Lake Rotorua facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Rotorua |
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| Location | Rotorua District, Bay of Plenty Region, North Island |
| Coordinates | 38°05′S 176°16′E / 38.083°S 176.267°E |
| Type | crater lake |
| Primary inflows | Utuhina, Hamurana Spring, Ngongotaha |
| Primary outflows | Ohau Channel |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Max. length | 12.1 kilometres (7.5 mi) |
| Max. width | 9.7 kilometres (6.0 mi) |
| Surface area | 79.8 square kilometres (30.8 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 10 metres (33 ft) |
| Max. depth | 45 metres (148 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 280 metres (920 ft) |
| Islands | Mokoia Island |
| Settlements | Rotorua, Ngongotaha |
Lake Rotorua is a large, shallow lake located on the North Island of New Zealand. It is famous for being formed inside the crater of an ancient volcano.
The city of Rotorua sits on the southern shore of the lake. The town of Ngongotaha is found on its western side. This beautiful lake is a popular spot for visitors and locals alike.
How Lake Rotorua Was Formed
Lake Rotorua was created by a huge volcano that erupted about 240,000 years ago. After this massive eruption, the ground underneath the volcano collapsed. This happened because the magma chamber (a big pool of molten rock) emptied out.
The large, circular dip left behind is called the Rotorua Caldera. This is where the lake now rests. You can find several other lakes nearby to the east. These lakes also formed from volcanic activity around the active volcano Mount Tarawera.
Lake Size and Features
Lake Rotorua is quite large, covering an area of 79.8 square kilometers. However, it is not very deep. Its average depth is only 10 meters, though its deepest point reaches 45 meters.
The lake is part of the Bay of Plenty region. Several rivers flow into the lake, including the Utuhina and Ngongotaha rivers, and the Hamurana Spring. The lake's water flows out through the Ohau Channel.
One special feature of the lake is Mokoia Island. This island is located in the middle of Lake Rotorua.
Images for kids
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Lake Rotorua seen from the air
See also
In Spanish: Lago Rotorua para niños
