- Lake Letas
Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Letas
image_lake = Mount_Gharat_and_Lake_Letas.jpg
caption_lake = Mount Gharat and the lake
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location =Gaua
coords = coord|14|17|S|167|32|E|region:VU_type:waterbody_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline,title
type =crater lake
inflow =
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries = Vanuatu
length = 9 km
width = 6 km
area =
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = 600 m
islands =
cities =Lake Letas is the largest
lake inVanuatu , located in the center of the volcanic island ofGaua in northern Vanuatu. The place submitted an application to be considered anUNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.The lake is U-shaped, it is about 9 km long (north to south) and about 6 km wide. It is situated in the center of the 20 km diameter island, and rests about 600 meters above sea level and it is about 360 meters deep. It is a fresh water lake. The water in the lake is not very clear, but has a greenish color. Water constantly flows out of the lake at a natural overflow located on the eastern side of the lake. The water flows about 3 km east to
Siri Waterfall and then another 3 km before it reaches the sea.Local people say there is a canoe at the top of the lake which is used to cross the lake from the eastern side to get to
Mount Gharat . The canoe is sometimes located on the eastern edge of the lake (near the water overflow), or sometimes on the north-eastern edge of the lake (nearestGaua Airport ).A rough estimate of the water flow rate out of the lake (during the dry season month of August 2006) was approximately 3 cubic meters per second.
In the 1980's it was suggested that the lake could be used as a resource for power generation to supply industrial developments but later the Tourism Council of the South Pacific has suggested that the lake should be included in Vanuatu's protected area system. The Department of Physical Planning and Environment is currently considering the status of protected area to the lake.
References
* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1974/ UNESCO World Heritage Site Application]
* [http://www.vanuatuculture.org/vchss/20061227_tentative_list.shtml Information about the application]
*
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