Lake Rotokakahi

Lake Rotokakahi or Green Lake, is one of four small lakes lying between Lake Rotorua and Lake Tarawera in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. The others are Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake), Lake Okareka, and Lake Okataina. All lie within the Okataina caldera, along its western edge.

Lake Rotokakahi
Green Lake
LocationBay of Plenty, North Island
Coordinates38°13′S 176°20′E
Typecrater lake
Basin countriesNew Zealand
Max. length4.3 km (2.7 mi)[1]
Max. width1.7 km (1.1 mi)[1]
Surface area4.5 km2 (1.7 sq mi)[1]
Average depth17.7 m (58 ft)[1]
Max. depth32.0 m (105.0 ft)[1]
Surface elevation394 m (1,293 ft)[1]
References[1]
Aerial view (Lake Tarawera is in the upper right)

Named for its abundance of kakahi (freshwater mussels),[2][3] the lake flows to Lake Tarawera via the Te Wairoa waterfalls. From the air the lake looks emerald green due to its shallow, sandy bottom. The lake is 1302 feet above sea level and 69 feet below the level of the neighbouring Lake Tikitapu.

The lake remains under the authority of Te Arawa iwi, Tūhourangi, and remains largely undisturbed as it is considered to be tapu (sacred).[4]

Motutawa

This small island in the lake is notable as the site of the 1822 slaughter of a part of Ngāpuhi, that led to the revenge raid of Hongi Hika in 1823—and also as the resting place of the bones of Hinemoa.

The New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage gives a translation of "tawa tree island" for Motutawa.[3]

References
  1. Lowe, D.J., Green, J.D. (1987). Viner, A.B. (ed.). Inland waters of New Zealand. Wellington: DSIR Science Information Publishing Centre. pp. 471–474. ISBN 0-477-06799-9.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "The kakahi (Hyridella menziesi) in a general framework of lake health", 2008, Joseph Butterworth (MS thesis)
  3. "1000 Māori place names". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 6 August 2019.
  4. "Lake Rotokakahi 2008 Report Card" Archived 2010-05-23 at the Wayback Machine, Environment Bay of Plenty website


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