Lake Kohangatera Explained

Lake Kohangatera
Pushpin Map:New Zealand Wellington
Pushpin Map Alt:Location of Lake Kohangatera
Location:Wellington Harbour, North Island
Coords:-41.3686°N 174.8668°W
Inflow:Gollans Stream
Catchment:17km2
Basin Countries:New Zealand
Area:17ha

Lake Kohangatera is one of two lakes in Fitzroy Bay (to the east of Pencarrow Head, on the eastern side of New Zealand's Wellington Harbour). It has an open water area of 17 hectares and is fed by Gollans Stream, which has its headwaters on Mount Lowry, 14 km to the north. The drainage basin area is about 1,700 ha.

The lake's southern end extends close to the sea where it is dammed by the gravel and sand of old earthquake raised beaches. The lake itself is a protected wildlife reserve managed by DOC and no fishing is allowed there. It is also part of the East Harbour regional park (administered by the Wellington Regional Council).[1] It has both significant historical and biological values; a large colony of black shags can be found on the northern edge of the lake[2] and there is substantial archaeological evidence of a Māori fishing village existing there in pre-European times.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Greater Wellington - Lighthouse and lakes . 17 March 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070105013951/http://www.gw.govt.nz/section601.cfm . 5 January 2007 . accessed on 16 March 2007
  2. Web site: Archived copy . 17 March 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081018104338/http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/OSNZnews/OSNZnews79_Jun1996.pdf . 18 October 2008 . accessed on 16 March 2007
  3. "Eastbourne; A history of the eastern bays of Wellington harbour, Ann Beaglehole and Allison Carew, The historical society of Eastbourne inc., 2001