Lake Hawea

Lake Hawea is located in the Otago Region of New Zealand, at an altitude of 348 metres. It covers an area of some 141 km² and is, at its deepest, 392 metres deep. Its name is Māori, and is thought to be named after a local tribe though the exact meaning is uncertain. In 1958 the lake was raised artificially by 20 metres to store more water for increased hydroelectric power generation. At its greatest extent, which is roughly along a north-south axis, the lake is 35 kilometres long. It lies in a glacial valley formed during the last ice age, and is fed by the Hunter River. Nearby Lake Wanaka lies in a parallel glacial valley eight kilometres to the west. At their closest point (a rocky ridge called The Neck), the lakes are only 1000...