by Rotomairewhenua / Blue Lake is a small lake in Nelson Lakes National Park, in the northern reaches of New Zealand's Southern Alps.
Sacred to local Māori, it has the clearest natural fresh water in the world.
he Blue Lake is drained by the west branch of the Sabine River, which is part of the Buller River system.
It is fed by a short upper segment of the Sabine, which in turn is fed by underground seepage through the landslide debris impounding the much larger Lake Constance.
Blue Lake is roughly boomerang shaped, running north then northwest, with each arm of the lake stretching some 200 metres (700 ft). Its waters are cold, ranging from 5 to 8 °C (41 to 46 °F).
The lake has extremely clear water, and is the clearest natural body of fresh water yet reported.
A 2011 study found its visibility ranged from 70 to 80 metres (230 to 260 ft), clearer than the 63 metres (207 ft) measured for Te Waikoropupu Springs, a previous record holder.
For comparison, laboratory measurements show distilled water has a visibility of approximately 80 metres (260 ft).
Scientists attribute the lake water's clarity to its passage underground from Lake Constance, which filters out nearly all the particles suspended in the water.
Its clarity reveals water's natural blue-violet colour
Source
Sacred to local Māori, it has the clearest natural fresh water in the world.
he Blue Lake is drained by the west branch of the Sabine River, which is part of the Buller River system.
It is fed by a short upper segment of the Sabine, which in turn is fed by underground seepage through the landslide debris impounding the much larger Lake Constance.
Blue Lake is roughly boomerang shaped, running north then northwest, with each arm of the lake stretching some 200 metres (700 ft). Its waters are cold, ranging from 5 to 8 °C (41 to 46 °F).
The lake has extremely clear water, and is the clearest natural body of fresh water yet reported.
A 2011 study found its visibility ranged from 70 to 80 metres (230 to 260 ft), clearer than the 63 metres (207 ft) measured for Te Waikoropupu Springs, a previous record holder.
For comparison, laboratory measurements show distilled water has a visibility of approximately 80 metres (260 ft).
Scientists attribute the lake water's clarity to its passage underground from Lake Constance, which filters out nearly all the particles suspended in the water.
Its clarity reveals water's natural blue-violet colour
Source
Last edited by Dragon on Tue Aug 17, 2021 4:11 am; edited 1 time in total
