- Lake Waihola
Infobox_lake
lake_name = Lake Waihola
image_lake = Lake Waihola.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location =Clutha District , Otago Region,South Island
coords = coord|46|01|S|170|06|E|region:NZ_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =
inflow =
outflow =Waipori River
catchment =
basin_countries = New Zealand
length =
width =
area = 9 km²
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation =
islands =
cities =Lake Waihola is a tidal freshwater
lake located 15 km north of Milton inOtago , inNew Zealand 'sSouth Island . Its area is some 9 square kilometres, with a maximum length of 6 kilometres.It is the larger of a pair of lakes - the other being
Lake Waipori - which lie in a small area of low hills between the Taieri and Tokomairiro Plains. Waihola is drained by theWaipori River , a tributary of the Taieri. Both lakes are very shallow and surrounded by wetlands, including the internationally renowned and protectedSinclair Wetlands which are the home to many species of wading birds. This shallowness is reflected in the name Waihola, the southern Maori form of the word "waihora", which means "spreading waters".Lake Waihola is a popular day trip for holidaymakers from
Dunedin , 40km to the north. The small township ofWaihola (population 200), nestled against the lake's eastern edge, has facilities forfishing ,yachting , andwaterskiing , and the lake is an important rowing venue.History
Lake Waihola was used in the
Central Otago goldrush . Ships used to travel up theTaieri River and across to the southern side of the lake where prospectors would traverse the hills and on toGabriel's Gully . In the early days of settlement a paddle-steamer, the "Betsy Douglas", plied the lake's waters from Owhiro, near Henley in the north to Clarendon at the lake's southern end.Curious Facts
Lake Waihola has attracted international interest due to the ecosystems based in a shallow freshwater tidal system. Since
2000 , Danish scientists have been conducting annual studies of the lake. Waihola is reputedly the home to a species ofotter , but no verified sightings have ever confirmed the animal's existence. [http://nzes.org.nz/nzje/free_issues/ProNZES21_57.pdf New Zealand Ecological Society report] (PDF format).]Notes
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