Lake Rotokare

About

Lake Rotokare is a landslide dammed lake in the New Zealand region of Taranaki. It is located 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Eltham, and is the largest extant remnant of the historic Ngaere swamp complex. The 230 ha (570 acres) Scenic Reserve, in the Tangahoe catchment, is the country's largest wetland and lake habitat inside a predator proof fence. It is administered by South Taranaki District Council and Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust. Species in the Reserve include raupō, harakeke, purei/makura, pukatea, kahikatea, coprosma, swamp maire, swamp millet, jointed baumea, Australasian bittern, spotless crake, fernbird, gold-striped gecko, banded kōkopu, koura, and short and longfin eels. Lake Rotokare should not be confused with Barrett Lagoon near New Plymouth, which has the alternative Māori language name of Rotokare.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.