Lake Wakatipu

Lake Wakatipu is a large glacial lake situated in the Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. It is the country's longest lake, measuring roughly 80 kilometers in length, and is famous for its distinctive Z-shape. The popular resort town of Queenstown lies on its shores, alongside the smaller settlements of Glenorchy and Kingston.

Lake Wakatipu is famous for a natural phenomenon called a "seiche," where the water level rhythmically rises and falls by about 10 to 12 centimeters every 26 minutes. This standing wave is caused by variations in atmospheric pressure and wind across the lake's long, narrow basin. Local Māori legend attributes the effect to the heartbeat of a giant monster resting at the bottom of the lake.

The historic TSS Earnslaw, affectionately known as the "Lady of the Lake," is a vintage 1912 coal-fired twin-screw steamer that still operates on Lake Wakatipu. Visitors departing from Queenstown can take a scenic cruise aboard the Earnslaw to Walter Peak High Country Farm. It is one of the oldest remaining commercial passenger-carrying steamships in the Southern Hemisphere.

Lake Wakatipu was carved out by a massive ancient glacier during the last Ice Age. As the glacier retreated, it left behind a deep trough that filled with freshwater, reaching a maximum depth of about 380 meters. The distinct "S" or "Z" shape of the lake follows the path the glacier took as it navigated around the mountain ranges.