- Lake Ellesmere
Infobox_lake
lake_name = Lake Ellesmere
Te Waihora
image_lake =
caption_lake =
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location =Selwyn District and Christchurch City, Canterbury Region,South Island
coords = coord|43|48|S|172|25|E|region:NZ_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =
inflow = Selwyn
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries = New Zealand
length =
width =
area = 180 km²
depth =
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cities =Lake Ellesmere is located in the Canterbury region of the
South Island ofNew Zealand . It is a broad, shallowlake located directly to the west ofBanks Peninsula , separated from thePacific Ocean by a long narrow strip of land calledKaitorete Spit . It lies partially in extreme southeasternSelwyn District and partially in the southwestern extension of the formerBanks Peninsula District, which now (since 2006) is a ward in the city ofChristchurch .The lake covers an area of 180 km² (70 mi²), and is the largest lake in the
alluvial fan of theCanterbury Plains . The main river that feeds the lake is the Selwyn. The ecosystem of Lake Ellesmere is severely threatened as a result of human activity on the Canterbury plains.The rarely used
Māori name is "Te Waihora", meaning "spreading waters" (compareLake Waihola ). The lake bed was returned toNgāi Tahu ownership under the Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998.References
*" [http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/1966/E/EllesmerewaihoraLake/en Ellesmere (Waihora), Lake] ", from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966. Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 26-Sep-2006
* [http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/MultiPageDocumentTOC.aspx?id=44089 Te Waihora Joint Management Plan] , Department of Conservation, December 2005.
* [http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Maps/WardMaps/BanksPeninsula.pdf Map of Banks Peninsula ward, Christchurch]
* [http://www.selwyn.govt.nz/dist_plan/decisions/maps/Rural%20Layout.pdf Map of Selwyn District]External links
* [http://www.publicaddress.net/assets/img/Southerly/Ellesmere_Swansong.pdf Avenues Magazine] - "Ellesmere Swansong: the end of a lake?"
* [http://www.publicaddress.net/default,3754.sm Public Address] - "The End of Lake Ellesmere"
* [http://www.wet.org.nz/ Waihora Ellesmere Trust] - set up to educate people about Lake Ellesmere
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