Tasman Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tasman Lake |
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 Tasman Lake
Location in South Island
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| Location | Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, South Island |
| Coordinates | 43°41′S 170°10′E / 43.683°S 170.167°E |
| Lake type | Proglacial lake |
| Primary outflows | Tasman River |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Max. length | 7 km (4.3 mi) |
| Max. width | 2 km (1.2 mi) |
| Surface area | 6.91 km2 (2.67 sq mi) in 2013 |
| Max. depth | > 200 m (660 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 715 m (2,346 ft) |
| Frozen | most winters |
Tasman Lake is a special kind of lake in New Zealand's South Island. It's called a proglacial lake, which means it formed right at the end of a melting glacier. This lake was created as the Tasman Glacier slowly melted and moved backward.
Contents
Discovering Tasman Lake
Tasman Lake didn't always exist in its current form. Back in the early 1970s, there were only a few small pools of meltwater on the Tasman Glacier. These small pools grew bigger over time. By 1990, all these little ponds had joined together. This is how Tasman Lake became one large body of water.
How the Lake Affects the Glacier
Tasman Lake actually makes the Tasman Glacier melt faster. At first, the lake caused parts of the ice cliff at the glacier's end to break off. This happened because the water was wearing away the base of the cliff.
Since 2006, a large shelf of ice, about 50–60 m (160–200 ft) thick, has been underwater at the glacier's edge. Big chunks of ice, called icebergs, regularly break off this underwater shelf. They then float away into the lake. Because more of the glacier is now touching the water, it melts even faster.
Lake Size and Growth
By 2008, Tasman Lake was about 7 km (4.3 mi) long and 2 km (1.2 mi) wide. It was also very deep, reaching about 245 m (804 ft) in places. The lake had almost doubled in size since the year 2000. Experts believe it will continue to grow. They expect it to reach a length of about 16 km (9.9 mi) in the next ten to twenty years.
Visiting Tasman Lake
Tasman Lake, along with the glacier and the mountains around it, is part of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. This area is a beautiful place to visit.
Fun Activities
One popular activity for tourists is taking a boat tour on Tasman Lake. You can ride in small inflatable boats and see icebergs up close. For safety, these boats must stay at least 1.5 km (0.93 mi) away from the glacier's tall ice face, which is about 50 m (160 ft) high.
Getting There
It's easy to get to Tasman Lake. You can drive there from the nearby Mount Cook Village. After parking your car, it's just a short walk to reach the lake.
Naming the Lake
Like many other places in both New Zealand and Australia, Tasman Lake is named after a famous explorer. It got its name from Abel Janszoon Tasman, a Dutch explorer who sailed in this region a long time ago.
Images for kids
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Tasman Lake viewed from near its outlet (right), in spring 2010
