Lake Ellesmere

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lake Ellesmere
Enlarge
Lake Ellesmere

Lake Ellesmere is located in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is a broad, shallow lake located directly to the west of Banks Peninsula, separated from the Pacific Ocean by a long narrow strip of land called Kaitorete Spit.

The lake covers an area of 265 km², and is the largest lake in the alluvial fan of the Canterbury Plains.

The rarely used Māori name is Waihora, meaning spreading waters (compare Lake Waihola). The main river that feeds the lake is the Selwyn.

Coordinates: 43°48′S 172°25′E