| Lake Ōmāpere | |||||||||
| Image Bathymetry: |
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| Alt Bathymetry: | Location of Lake Ōmāpere | ||||||||
| Location: | Far North District, Northland Region, North Island | ||||||||
| Pushpin Map: | Northland | ||||||||
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location of Lake Ōmāpere | ||||||||
| Outflow: | Utakura River | ||||||||
| Basin Countries: | New Zealand | ||||||||
| Length: | 5km (03miles) | ||||||||
| Max-Depth: | 2- | ||||||||
Lake Ōmāpere is the largest lake in the Northland Region of New Zealand. It is located to the North of Kaikohe.
The lake sits within the Kaikohe-Bay of Islands volcanic field. The lake was formed when an ancient lava flow blocked a valley, forming the northern shoreline.[1] [2] It is five kilometres in length and covers 12.3 km2, however it is only 2.6 metres deep (and as low as 1.5 m during summer). The lake has few inflow streams, mostly in the southern part of the lake. The Utakura River (south-western margin) is the main outflow which goes to the Hokianga Harbour. The lake catchment is predominantly pasture, with a few areas of native scrub and mature bush.[3]
Lake Ōmāpere is of great cultural and environmental value to Māori tangata whenua.[4]
In May 1845 the Battle of Puketutu, an engagement of the Flagstaff War, occurred at the pā of Hōne Heke at Puketutu, on the shores of Lake Ōmāpere.[5]
The lake level was lowered between 1903 and 1929,[6] but by 1947 silting had restored much of its level.[7]
The water quality in the lake is generally poor and the lake is prone to blooms of toxic algae.[8] The lake is monitored by Northland Regional Council, and the environmental information can be viewed on the LAWA website.[9]
The Lake Ōmāpere Restoration and Management Project aims to develop and implement a voluntary lake management strategy that will work towards improving the health of the lake and help assist the Lake Omapere Trustees in their role as kaitiaki.[10]