Lake Wairarapa
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| Lake Wairarapa | |
|---|---|
| Location | North Island |
| Coordinates | |
| Primary sources | Ruamahanga |
| Primary outflows | Ruamahanga |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Surface area | 78 km² |
| Average depth | 2.5 m |
Lake Wairarapa is a lake at the southern end of the North Island of New Zealand, 50 kilometres east of Wellington. The lake covers an area of 78 km², and is the third largest in the North Island, fractionally smaller than Lake Rotorua. The nearest town to the lake is Featherston, which is located five kilometres from its northern shore.
The lake takes water from several rivers, notably the Ruamahanga, which is also its outflow. The lake's catchment area is large, and includes the eastern slopes of the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges. The Ruamahanga drains into Palliser Bay and Cook Strait just ten kilometres south of the lake.
The area around the lake is low-lying and swampy, and recent efforts have been made to preserve its important wetland features. The lake has long been used by Māori as a source of readily available food, and many species of waterfowl and fish uncommon elsewhere in New Zealand can be found in or around the lake.
