Lake Rotorua (Canterbury) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Rotorua, Canterbury |
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 Lake Rotorua, Canterbury
Location in South Island
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| Coordinates | 42°24′29″S 173°34′53″E / 42.4081°S 173.581389°E |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Surface area | 43 ha (110 acres) |
| Max. depth | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Settlements | Kaikoura |
Lake Rotorua is a small lake located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of Kaikoura. It is found in the Canterbury area, which is part of the South Island of New Zealand.
Lake Health and Pollution
Lakes can be affected by pollution, which means harmful substances get into the water. Scientists use something called a trophic level index to check how healthy a lake is. This index helps them understand how much pollution, especially from nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, is in the water.
What the Trophic Level Index Means
A high trophic level index usually means there are too many nutrients in the lake. These extra nutrients can come from things like farms or towns nearby. When there are too many nutrients, it can cause problems like:
- Lots of algae growing very fast, which are tiny plant-like organisms. This is called an "algae bloom."
- When the algae die, they sink and are broken down by bacteria. This process uses up a lot of the oxygen in the water.
- Less oxygen in the water makes it hard for fish and other water animals to breathe and survive.
Lake Rotorua's Health Report
In 2010, a report looked at many lakes in the area. It showed that Lake Rotorua had the second highest trophic level index among all the lakes measured. This means that, at that time, Lake Rotorua had a high level of pollution, which could affect its water quality and the creatures living in it.
