Lake Benmore

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Lake Benmore
Looking south
Location	Mackenzie, Waimate, and Waitaki Districts, Canterbury Region, South Island
Lake type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Ohau, Pukaki, Tekapo
Basin countries	New Zealand
Surface area	75 km²
Max. depth	120 m
Surface elevation	361 m

Lake Benmore is a lake located in the South Island of New Zealand. It was artificially created in the 1960s by construction of Benmore Dam. The lake covers an area of approximately 75 km². Parts of it lie in the Mackenzie, Waimate, and Waitaki districts within the southern portion of the Canterbury Region.

The major rivers with which it is fed are the Ohau, Pukaki and the Tekapo Rivers. Immediately downstream is Lake Aviemore.

The lake has New Zealand's largest earth dam as part of the Waitaki hydroelectricity power scheme.

[edit] External links

• Pictures of Lake Benmore
• Map of Waitaki District showing Lake Benmore bordering the Mackenzie and Waimate Districts

v • d • e Waitaki River Source: Southern Alps — Flows into: Pacific Ocean Administrative areas Canterbury Region · Otago Region · Waitaki District Towns and settlements (upstream to downstream) Twizel · Otematata · Kurow · Duntroon · Glenavy Major tributaries (upstream to downstream by confluence) Godley River · Tekapo River · Tasman River · Pukaki River · Dobson River · Hopkins River · Ahuriri River · Hakataramea River · Maerewhenua River Lakes in catchment (upstream to downstream by location or tributary) Lake Tekapo · Lake Pukaki · Lake Ohau · Lake Ruataniwha · Lake Benmore · Lake Aviemore · Lake Waitaki Other features (upstream to downstream) Tasman Glacier · Mackenzie Country · Benmore Dam · Aviemore Dam Longest New Zealand rivers 1: Waikato · 2: Clutha · 3: Whanganui · 4: Taieri · 5: Rangitikei · 6: Mataura · 7: Waiau (Southland) · 8: Clarence · 9: Waitaki · 10: Oreti