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Tomarata Lake

Coordinates: 36°11′38″S 174°39′04″E / 36.194°S 174.651°E / -36.194; 174.651
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Tomarata Lake
Jetskiing at Tomarata Lake in 2022
Location of Tomarata Lake
Location of Tomarata Lake
Tomarata Lake
LocationAuckland Region, North Island, New Zealand
Coordinates36°11′38″S 174°39′04″E / 36.194°S 174.651°E / -36.194; 174.651
Primary outflowsSpectacle Lake
Basin countriesNew Zealand
Max. length600 metres (2,000 ft)
Max. width320 metres (1,050 ft)
Surface area14.4 ha (36 acres)[1]
Max. depth6 metres (20 ft)
Surface elevation23 m (75 ft)

Tomarata Lake is a lake at Tomarata, Rodney in the northern Auckland Region of New Zealand.[2]

Geography

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Tomarata Lake is a sand dune lake located around 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Wellsford. It is adjacent to the Mangawhai Forest and near Te Ārai Regional Park.[3] The lake drains into Spectacle Lake, which in turn drains into Slipper Lake, and eventually flows into the Jellicoe Channel.[3] A former sand quarry is located near the lake, which overtime developed into a lake itself.[4]

The lake was created when the Te Ārai sand dunes began to build up, preventing water from escaping the area.[5] It is the only example of a peatland lake in the Auckland Region.[6] The lake has no inflow streams, and is instead fed by rainwater and the surrounding wetlands.[5]

Biodiversity

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The lake is a part of the Tomarata ⁠— Te Ārai Dune Lakes biodiversity focus area,[5] and is surrounded by extensive wetlands.[6]

The lake is home to many threatened bird species, such as the New Zealand fernbird, Eurasian bittern and the Buff-banded rail.[7][8]

Recreation

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The lake is used for recreational swimming, boating and jetskiing, and is the most accessible of the northern Rodney lakes.[7][9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ de Winton, Elcock, Taumoepeau (June 2022), LakeSPI Assessment of 15 Auckland Lakes: 2021/2022, p. 2{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Place name detail: Tomarata Lake". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Tomarata Lake, Auckland". NZ Topo Map. Gavin Harriss. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  4. ^ Preddey, Pulham (2017), Observations of New Zealand fairy tern (Sternula nereis davisae) foraging at Te Arai dune lakes, New Zealand, p. 88
  5. ^ a b c "Tomarata ⁠— Te Ārai Dune Lakes". Tiaki Tāmaki Makaurau Conservation Auckland. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b Hussain, Ebrahim (30 April 2021). "Citizen Science to The Rescue: Getting to the Bottom of Lake Tomarata". In Depth Magazine. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b Auckland Council, ed. (2013), Guide to Auckland's wetlands (PDF), retrieved 11 February 2024
  8. ^ Wells, Rohan (August 2016). The Impacts of Recreational Activities on Lake Tomarata's Ecology and Water Quality (PDF) (Report). Auckland Council. ISBN 978-1-927169-01-8. ISSN 2230-4533. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Tomarata". Visit Wellsford. Retrieved 18 June 2024.