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{{Short description|Lake in the South Island of New Zealand}}{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
⚫ '''Lake Waihola''' is a tidal freshwater lake located 15 km north of ] in ], on ]'s ]. Its area is some 9 square kilometres, with a maximum length of 6 kilometres.
{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Lake Waihola
| image = Lake Waihola.jpg
| alt = Lake Waihola
| caption = Lake Waihola
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| image_map ={{Infobox mapframe |zoom=11|point=none|shape-fill-opacity=0|stroke-width=1}}
|pushpin_map=New Zealand Otago peninsula
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Lake Waihola
| location = ], ], ]
| coords = {{coord|46|01|S|170|06|E|region:NZ_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| type =
| inflow =
| outflow = ]
| catchment =
| basin_countries = New Zealand
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|9|km2|abbr=on}}
| depth =
| max-depth =
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation =
| islands =
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}}
]]]
⚫ '''Lake Waihola''' is a 640 ha tidal freshwater ] located 15&nbsp;km north of ] in ], in New Zealand's ]. Its area is some 9 square kilometres, with a maximum length of 6 kilometres and a mean depth of 0.75m.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/science-and-technical/nzwetlands12.pdf|title=OTAGO CONSERVANCY |website=www.doc.govt.nz |format=PDF|access-date=2020-06-28}}</ref>


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 ] and ] Plains. Waihola is drained by the ], a tributary of the ]. Both lakes are very shallow and surrounded by wetlands which are the home to many species of wading birds. This shallowness is reflected in the name Waihola, the southern ] form of the word ''waihora'', which means "spreading waters". It is the larger of a pair of existing lakes&mdash;the other being ]&mdash;which lie in a small area of low hills between the ] and ]. Waihola is drained by the ], a tributary of the ]. Both lakes are very shallow and surrounded by wetlands, including the internationally renowned and protected ] which are the home to many species of wading birds. This shallowness is reflected in the name Waihola, the southern ] form of the word ''waihora'', which means "spreading waters".


Lake Waihola is a popular day trip for holidaymakers from ], 40km to the north. The small township of Waihola (population 200), nestled against the lake's eastern edge, has facilities for ], ], and], and the lake is an important ] venue. Lake Waihola is a popular day trip for holidaymakers from ], 40&nbsp;km to the north. The small township of ] (population 200),{{update needed|date=September 2024}} nestled against the lake's eastern edge, has facilities for ], ], and ], and the lake is an important ] venue.

== History ==
Lake Waihola was used in the ]. Ships used to travel up the ] and across to the southern side of the lake where ]s would traverse the hills and on to ]. In the early days of settlement a paddle-steamer, the ''Betsy Douglas'', plied the lake's waters from Owhiro, near ] in the north to Clarendon at the lake's southern end.

Lake Waihola is located at the southern end of the lower ] and is the largest of a group of historical lakes that were once distributed between Lake Waihola and ]. Other neighbouring historical lakes include ], ], ], ] and ]<ref name="historicallakes">Bray, Sharon. "Under the Eye of the Saddle Hill Taniwha", 1998.</ref>

==Etymology==
Waihola's name creates some interest as the ] generally does not contain the letter ']'. It is, however, found in ],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Macalister |first1=John |title=Listening to Proper Nouns: Social Change and Maori Proper Noun Use in New Zealand English |journal=New Zealand English Journal |date=2004 |volume=18 |page=28 |url=https://www.victoria.ac.nz/lals/resources/Publications/nzej-backissues/2004-john-macalister.pdf |accessdate=24 June 2018}}</ref> and is also found in several other central and southern South Island place names, such as ] in Otago and ] in Canterbury. The word ''Waihola'' is generally accepted to be the southern variant of the word ''wai-hora'', meaning "spreading waters".

== Ecosystems ==
Lake Waihola has attracted international interest due to the ecosystems based in a shallow freshwater tidal system. Since 2000, ] scientists have been conducting annual studies of the lake. Waihola is reputedly the home to a species of ], the ] ], but no verified sightings have ever confirmed the animal's existence.<ref name="otter"> (PDF format).</ref>

{{wide image|Waihola panorama.jpg|800px|Panorama of Lake Waihola, seen from the hills to the southeast. Part of the settlement of Waihola is visible in the centre of the image.}}

==Health warnings==
Health warnings related to algae have been issued on the lake as of March 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/south-otago/new-health-warning-lake-waihola|title=New health warning for Lake Waihola|date=7 March 2017|website=Otago Daily Times Online News}}</ref>

== See also ==
* ], a similar freshwater tidal lake in ], Canada.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taieri}}
{{Authority control}}

]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 12:30, 25 September 2024

Lake in the South Island of New Zealand

Lake Waihola
Lake WaiholaLake Waihola
Location of Lake WaiholaLocation of Lake WaiholaLake Waihola
LocationClutha District, Otago Region, South Island
Coordinates46°01′S 170°06′E / 46.017°S 170.100°E / -46.017; 170.100
Primary outflowsWaipori River
Basin countriesNew Zealand
Surface area9 km (3.5 sq mi)
Looking north towards Maungatua

Lake Waihola is a 640 ha tidal freshwater lake located 15 km north of Milton in Otago, in New Zealand's South Island. Its area is some 9 square kilometres, with a maximum length of 6 kilometres and a mean depth of 0.75m.

It is the larger of a pair of existing lakes—the other being Lake Waipori—which lie in a small area of low hills between the Taieri and Tokomairaro. Waihola is drained by the Waipori River, a tributary of the Taieri. Both lakes are very shallow and surrounded by wetlands, including the internationally renowned and protected Sinclair Wetlands which are the home to many species of wading birds. This shallowness is reflected in the name Waihola, the southern Māori form of the word waihora, which means "spreading waters".

Lake Waihola is a popular day trip for holidaymakers from Dunedin, 40 km to the north. The small township of Waihola (population 200), nestled against the lake's eastern edge, has facilities for fishing, yachting, and waterskiing, and the lake is an important rowing venue.

History

Lake Waihola was used in the Otago gold rush. Ships used to travel up the Taieri River and across to the southern side of the lake where prospectors would traverse the hills and on to Gabriel'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.

Lake Waihola is located at the southern end of the lower Taieri Plains and is the largest of a group of historical lakes that were once distributed between Lake Waihola and Mosgiel. Other neighbouring historical lakes include Lake Tatawai, Loch Ascog, Loch Katrine, Lake Potaka and Silverstream Lagoon

Etymology

Waihola's name creates some interest as the Māori alphabet generally does not contain the letter 'L'. It is, however, found in Southern Māori dialect, and is also found in several other central and southern South Island place names, such as Wangaloa in Otago and Little Akaloa in Canterbury. The word Waihola is generally accepted to be the southern variant of the word wai-hora, meaning "spreading waters".

Ecosystems

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 of otter, the cryptid waitoreke, but no verified sightings have ever confirmed the animal's existence.

Panorama of Lake Waihola, seen from the hills to the southeast. Part of the settlement of Waihola is visible in the centre of the image.

Health warnings

Health warnings related to algae have been issued on the lake as of March 2017.

See also

References

  1. "OTAGO CONSERVANCY" (PDF). www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  2. Bray, Sharon. "Under the Eye of the Saddle Hill Taniwha", 1998.
  3. Macalister, John (2004). "Listening to Proper Nouns: Social Change and Maori Proper Noun Use in New Zealand English" (PDF). New Zealand English Journal. 18: 28. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  4. New Zealand Ecological Society report (PDF format).
  5. "New health warning for Lake Waihola". Otago Daily Times Online News. 7 March 2017.
Taieri River
Source: Lammerlaw Range. Flows into: Pacific Ocean
Administrative areas
Towns and settlements (upstream to downstream)
Tributaries (upstream to downstream by confluence)
Lakes in catchment (upstream to downstream by location or tributary)
Islands in catchment (upstream to downstream by location or tributary)
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