Lake Wakatipu, Otago Region, South Island, New Zealand

Lake Wakatipu is located in the extreme southwest of the Otago region, right on the border to Southland. With a length of about 80 kilometers Lake Wakatipu is the longest lake in the country. It is located at an altitude of 310 m above sea level. NN at the foot of the New Zealand Alps and measures at its deepest point 380 m. The shape of the lake resembles an S-shape, in which the lake leads southward for about 30 kilometers, then turns abruptly to the northeast, after which, after another 20 kilometers, it returns to its original southward direction and after 30 kilometers at the village of Kingston ends.

The inflow of Lake Wakatipu forms the Dart River at the northern end of the lake. The Kawarau River, which adjoins the lake at the height of Queenstown and continues to the east, forms the outflow of the lake. In the lake, the water level rises and falls at regular intervals by about 200 mm due to the Seiche, which is particularly strong in alpine lakes.

The lake is important for tourism due to its location at the foot of the Remarkables. The area around the lake is the center of extreme sports, such as bungee jumping. There are also extensive ski areas, hiking trails around the lake and an old steamboat, the TSS Earnslaw, operates regularly on the lake. Lake Wakatipu is a station on the Southern Scenic Route.