Aratiatia
Encyclopedia
Aratiatia Power Station is a hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River
, in the North Island
of New Zealand
. It is the first hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River, and is located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) downstream of Lake Taupo
.
Aratiatia is a largely run-of-the-river station, as it generates electricity from water running between Lake Taupo and Ohakuri Power Station. It does, however, have a 55 hectares (135.9 acre) lake behind the station for temporary storage.
The station is situated next to the Aratiatia Rapids. The rapids act as a spillway past the station, and water is released three times daily (four in the summer months) through the rapids.
Aratiatia is operated by state-owned electricity generator Mighty River Power.
Waikato River
The Waikato River is the longest river in New Zealand. In the North Island, it runs for 425 kilometres from the eastern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, joining the Tongariro River system and emptying into Lake Taupo, New Zealand's largest lake. It drains Taupo at the lake's northeastern edge, creates the...
, in the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is the first hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River, and is located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) downstream of Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo is a lake situated in the North Island of New Zealand. With a surface area of , it is the largest lake by surface area in New Zealand, and the second largest freshwater lake by surface area in geopolitical Oceania after Lake Murray ....
.
Aratiatia is a largely run-of-the-river station, as it generates electricity from water running between Lake Taupo and Ohakuri Power Station. It does, however, have a 55 hectares (135.9 acre) lake behind the station for temporary storage.
The station is situated next to the Aratiatia Rapids. The rapids act as a spillway past the station, and water is released three times daily (four in the summer months) through the rapids.
Aratiatia is operated by state-owned electricity generator Mighty River Power.
External links
- Mighty River Power - Aratiatia information page