Lake Wanaka

Lake Wanaka is a large glacial lake situated in the Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. It lies in a U-shaped valley carved by Pleistocene glaciers and covers an area of roughly 192 square kilometers. The popular resort town of Wanaka sits at the southern end of the lake.

"That Wanaka Tree" is a solitary, wildly curved willow tree growing out of the shallow water near the shore of Lake Wanaka. It has become one of the most photographed trees in New Zealand, attracting thousands of visitors annually. Its striking silhouette against the backdrop of the Southern Alps makes it a social media and photography phenomenon.

Lake Wanaka is the source of the Clutha River, which is one of the largest and swiftest rivers in New Zealand by volume. The river flows out of the lake at the southern end, passing through the towns of Wanaka and Cromwell. The Clutha eventually drains into the Pacific Ocean.

Lake Wanaka was formed by massive glaciers retreating during the last Ice Age. As the heavy ice sheets retreated, they carved a deep trough into the earth, leaving behind steep mountain valleys that subsequently filled with glacial meltwater. The deep blue color of the lake is due to this glacial origin, which leaves fine rock flour suspended in the water.