Lake Benmore
{{Short description|Lake in the South Island of New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Lake Benmore
| image = Lake_Benmore.jpg
|alt = Looking south across Lake Benmore
| caption = Looking south
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = Mackenzie, Waimate, and Waitaki Districts, Canterbury region, South Island
| coords = {{coord|44|24|54|S|170|13|14|E|region:NZ-CAN_source:dewiki_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| lake_type = reservoir
| inflow = Ōhau, Pukaki, Tekapo, Ahuriri
| outflow =
| image_map = {{Infobox mapframe |zoom=9|point=none|shape-fill-opacity=0|stroke-width=1}}
|pushpin_map=New Zealand South Island
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Lake Benmore
| catchment =
| basin_countries = New Zealand
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|75|km2|abbr=on}}
| depth =
| max-depth = {{convert|90|m|abbr=on}}
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation = {{convert|362|m|abbr=on}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz22045/Lake-Benmore/|title=Lake Benmore, Canterbury|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en|access-date=9 February 2020}}
| islands =
| cities =
}}
Lake Benmore is New Zealand's largest artificial lake.{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4915/lake-benmore-hydroelectric-dam|title=Lake Benmore hydroelectric dam|last=Meduna|first=Veronika|date=2006|website=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=9 February 2020}} Located in the South Island of New Zealand and part of the Waitaki River, it was created in the 1960s by construction of Benmore Dam.
Characteristics
File:Lake benmore.pngThe lake has an area of about 75 km²{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/lakes/page-1|title=Story: Lakes – Page 1. New Zealand lakes|last=Nathan|first=Simon|date=|website=Te Ara|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=9 February 2020}}{{Cite web |title=Lake Benmore Water Quality |url=https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/canterbury-region/lakes/lake-benmore/ |access-date=30 August 2023 |website=Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA)}} and a maximum depth of 90 meters. The lake consists of two arms: the Haldon arm, fed mainly by the Tekapo, Pukaki and Twizel rivers, and the Ōhau Canal; and the Ahuriri Arm, fed mainly by the Ahuriri River. Immediately downstream is Lake Aviemore.
As of 2023, Land Air Water Aotearoa described the water quality as "very good", with a trophic level index of 1.8. It also described the quality of ecological conditions as "high", with a lake submerged plant indicators score of 72.0%.
The lake is split between the Mackenzie, Waimate, and Waitaki districts, within the southern portion of the Canterbury Region.
Construction
The lake is the reservoir of Benmore Dam, New Zealand's largest earth dam, which was created as part of the Waitaki hydroelectricity power scheme. Construction of Benmore Dam was approved in 1957{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/spectrum/audio/201753844/power-for-the-people|title=Power for the People|date=11 May 2015|website=RNZ |language=en-nz|access-date=9 February 2020}} and the lake was filled in December 1964.{{Cite web|url=https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/who-we-are/our-power-stations/hydro/benmore|title=Benmore dam hydro station|website=Meridian Energy|language=en-US|access-date=9 February 2020}}
After the lake was created the incidence of seismic shocks increased by a factor of three to six times.{{cite journal|last=Adams|first=R|year=1974|title=Statistical studies of earthquakes associated with Lake Benmore, New Zealand|journal=Engineering Geology|volume=8|issue=1–2|pages=155–169|issn=0013-7952|doi=10.1016/0013-7952(74)90022-2|bibcode=1974EngGe...8..155A}}
Uses
Besides being a reservoir for Benmore Dam, the lake is a fishing spot; in 2009 it was the second most-fished lake in New Zealand, with fish such as brown trout, rainbow trout, chinook salmon, and sockeye salmon. Fish in the lake include salmon that have escaped from salmon farms on nearby hydro canals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/north-otago/hooked-fishing-lake-benmore|title=Hooked on fishing at Lake Benmore|last=Bruce|first=David|date=19 January 2009|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en|access-date=9 February 2020}} The lake is also used for swimming and camping and there are walks in the area.
Climate
{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|collapsed = Y
|location = Lake Benmore (Benmore Dam) (1981–2010)
|Jan high C = 24.1
|Feb high C = 23.3
|Mar high C = 21.3
|Apr high C = 17.3
|May high C = 13.1
|Jun high C = 8.9
|Jul high C = 7.8
|Aug high C = 11.0
|Sep high C = 14.8
|Oct high C = 17.5
|Nov high C = 20.0
|Dec high C = 22.1
| year high C =
|Jan mean C = 18.1
|Feb mean C = 17.7
|Mar mean C = 15.8
|Apr mean C = 12.5
|May mean C = 9.0
|Jun mean C = 5.6
|Jul mean C = 4.4
|Aug mean C = 6.7
|Sep mean C = 9.6
|Oct mean C = 12.1
|Nov mean C = 14.4
|Dec mean C = 16.5
| year mean C =
|Jan low C = 12.2
|Feb low C = 12.2
|Mar low C = 10.3
|Apr low C = 7.7
|May low C = 4.8
|Jun low C = 2.3
|Jul low C = 0.9
|Aug low C = 2.4
|Sep low C = 4.4
|Oct low C = 6.7
|Nov low C = 8.9
|Dec low C = 10.9
| year low C =
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 46.1
|Feb rain mm = 38.4
|Mar rain mm = 45.5
|Apr rain mm = 36.4
|May rain mm = 34.9
|Jun rain mm = 37.0
|Jul rain mm = 34.8
|Aug rain mm = 32.5
|Sep rain mm = 29.7
|Oct rain mm = 37.5
|Nov rain mm = 37.8
|Dec rain mm = 52.1
|year rain mm =
|source 1 = CliFlo (rain 1971–2000)
{{cite web
|url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz
|title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Benmore Power Stn
|publisher = NIWA
|access-date = 10 May 2024}}
}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081014155655/http://www.waitaki.govt.nz/NR/rdonlyres/5DD2BC27-EC9C-4E9C-A07D-22EE6F38C991/38699/COUNCILBOUNDARYMAP.jpg Map of Waitaki District showing Lake Benmore bordering the Mackenzie and Waimate Districts]
{{Waitaki}}
{{Waitaki District, New Zealand}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benmore, Lake}}