Lake Te Paritu

Lake Te Paritu
Black Lake
Basin countries New Zealand
Surface area 3.2 hectares (7.9 acres)

Lake Te Paritu, also known as Black Lake, is one of two small crater lakes on Mayor Island / Tuhua in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. It is connected to the larger Lake Aroarotamahine or Green Lake by a wetland, but there is no surface outlet to the sea as both lakes are in a depression.[1]

The lake has a black colour due to fine sediment. According to Māori legend, the black is the blood of Tuhua (obsidian) which fought a battle with Pounamu (greenstone) who, defeated, fled to the South Island.[2]

References

  1. ^ New Zealand 1:50000 Topographic Map Series sheet BC37 – Mayor Island
  2. ^ Eagles, Jim (17 July 2009). "Bay of Plenty: The island of dark crystal". New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/new-zealand-travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=1500882&objectid=10584650.