Lake Alabaster
Encyclopedia
Lake Alabaster, also known by the Maori
name of Waiwahuika, lies at the northern end of Fiordland
, in the southwest of New Zealand
's South Island
. The lake
runs from northeast to southwest, is six kilometres in length, and covers 7 km².
Lake Alabaster drains, and is drained by, the Pyke River
, a small tributary of the Hollyford River
. It is one of two lakes (along with Lake McKerrow
) found in the lower reaches of the Hollyford River system. A branch of the Hollyford Track
, one of New Zealand's most well-known and popular tramping tracks, extends along the eastern shore of the lake.
The lake was formed at the southern end of a glacial valley and, had the sea level been slightly higher, would have been the northern arm of what might have been McKerrow Fiord.
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
name of Waiwahuika, lies at the northern end of Fiordland
Fiordland
Fiordland is a geographic region of New Zealand that is situated on the south-western corner of the South Island, comprising the western-most third of Southland. Most of Fiordland is dominated by the steep sides of the snow-capped Southern Alps, deep lakes and its ocean-flooded, steep western valleys...
, in the southwest 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...
's South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. The lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
runs from northeast to southwest, is six kilometres in length, and covers 7 km².
Lake Alabaster drains, and is drained by, the Pyke River
Pyke River
The Pyke River is a river in the south west of New Zealand's South Island. It flows generally south into Lake Wilmot then Lake Alabaster, before becoming a tributary of the Hollyford River....
, a small tributary of the Hollyford River
Hollyford River
The Hollyford River is located in the southwest of the South Island of New Zealand. It runs for eighty miles in Fiordland, its source being ten kilometres to the north of the northern tip of Lake Te Anau and close to the Homer Tunnel....
. It is one of two lakes (along with Lake McKerrow
Lake McKerrow
Lake McKerrow, also known by the Maori name of Whakatipu Waitai, lies at the northern end of Fiordland, in the southwest of New Zealand's South Island. The lake runs from southeast to northwest, is 15 kilometres in length, and covers 28 km²....
) found in the lower reaches of the Hollyford River system. A branch of the Hollyford Track
Hollyford Track
The Hollyford Track is a tramping track in New Zealand. Located at the northern edge of Fiordland, in the southwestern South Island, it is unusual among Fiordland's major tracks in that it is largely flat and accessible year-round...
, one of New Zealand's most well-known and popular tramping tracks, extends along the eastern shore of the lake.
The lake was formed at the southern end of a glacial valley and, had the sea level been slightly higher, would have been the northern arm of what might have been McKerrow Fiord.