| Big Lagoon | |
| Type: | Lagoon |
| Location: | Cloudy Bay, Marlborough, New Zealand |
| Outflow: | Pacific Ocean |
| Area: | 800ha |
| Pushpin Map: | New Zealand |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location of Big Lagoon in New Zealand |
Big Lagoon, sometimes known as Te Whanganui (both unofficial) is a lagoon beside Cloudy Bay in Marlborough, New Zealand. It outflows into the Pacific Ocean. It is approximately 800 hectares and is part of the Wairau Lagoon, which is connected to Upper Lagoon and Chandlers Lagoon.[1]
There used to be a canal known as Ōrua or previously Morgan Creek which went from Ōpawa River to Big Lagoon.[2] Big Lagoon was previously a wildlife refuge, but this has been lifted and people are now permitted to hunt over the lagoon.[3]
Big Lagoon has beds of Ruppia, Chara and Nitella.
Big Lagoon is in the plate boundary between the Australian Plate and the Pacific Plate. This means that Big Lagoon occasionally experiences strong earthquakes, which may cause liquefaction.[4]