Lake Christabel

{{Short description|Lake in New Zealand}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}

{{Infobox body of water

|name = Lake Christabel

|image =

|caption =

|image_bathymetry =

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|location = Grey District, West Coast Region, South Island

|coords = {{Coord|42|25|S|172|14|E|region:NZ_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}

|type =

|pushpin_map=New Zealand West Coast

| pushpin_map_alt= Location of Lake Christabel

|inflow =

|outflow = Grey River

|catchment =

|basin_countries = New Zealand

|length =

|width =

|area = {{convert|2.6|sqkm|sqmi}}

|depth =

|max-depth =

|volume =

|residence_time =

|shore = {{convert|8.9|km|mi}}

|elevation = {{convert|655|m|ft}}

|islands =

|cities =

}}

Lake Christabel is a small lake in the north of New Zealand's South Island. It is located 12 kilometres southwest of the Lewis Pass. The lake is the source of the Grey River, one of the longest rivers on the South Island's West Coast, although its outlet is underground.New Zealand 1:50000 Topographic Map series sheet BT22 – Springs Junction The lake lies behind a landslide dam, thought to have been created by a prehistoric earthquake.{{cite journal|first=John|last=Adams|title=Earthquake-dammed lakes in New Zealand|journal=Geology|year=1981|issue=5|volume=9|page=215|doi=10.1130/0091-7613(1981)9<215:elinz>2.0.co;2 |bibcode=1981Geo.....9..215A |url=http://geology.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/9/5/215}} The river runs under the debris for about {{Convert|200|m|abbr=on}}. A 1976 survey said it was, "one of the very few lakes in New Zealand in a natural, unmodified state". It estimated its depth at over {{Convert|90|m|abbr=on}}. Galaxias brevipinnis (climbing galaxias) and Anquilla dieffenbachii (longfin eel) were the only fish found.{{Cite web |last=W. S. Johnson, J. T. Mace, A. S. Turner |date=1976 |title=Fisheries Survey of Lake Christabel, West Coast Acclimatisation District |url=https://docs.niwa.co.nz/library/public/ftr144.pdf |website=NIWA}}