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Te Ruakanakana / Lake Elterwater

Depth: 1 metres

Area: 51 hectares

Altitude: 33 metres

Lake ID: 27936

Main vegetation type:
High Producing Grassland

Seddon

Marlborough
41° 47' 57" S
174° 9' 15" E
Lowland

Iwi / representative groups:

  • Ngāi Tahu
    • Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura

Description

The traditional Māori name for Lake Elterwater is Te Ruakanakana. The lake is situated 35km south east of Blenheim, adjacent to State Highway 1. Low hills to the east separate it from the sea, 5km away. The lake is located in a catchment with low rainfall, dry springs and summers, strong winds and moderate winter temperatures. The lake is of substantial size but very shallow, with no permanent inflow and outflow. The lakes has dried up 10 times in the last 100 years.

It is the second largest freshwater lake in the Marlborough District by surface area (third largest by volume), and the fourth largest wetland. It is an important areas for wildlife and has ephemeral edge communities. The predominant land use of the catchment is pastoral farming, with some small areas of grapes. The lake is part of the catchment of the Flaxbourne River (www.marlborough.govt.nz).

Main image (above) by David G. Schmale III, Virginia Tech, https://www.schmalelab.spes.vt.edu/

27936

Download information sheet

Sediment core

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About

  • The Project
  • The Science
    • Field Sampling
    • Laboratory Analysis
    • Student Projects
  • Science Aims
  • Rohe Studies
    • Rangitīkei Iwi Rohe Study
    • Wairarapa Moana iwi rohe study
  • Virtual Experience
  • Social Science
  • Iwi Relationships
  • The Team
    • Lakes380 Team
    • Advisory Groups
    • Lakes380 Co-lead Institutes​
    • National Collaborators
    • International Collaborators
  • Partners

Resources

  • Contact & Links
  • Blog, News & Publications
  • Video Gallery
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  • Glossary