Lake Tekapo, Alpine lake in the Mackenzie Basin, South Island, New Zealand.
Lake Tekapo sits at about 2,340 feet (713 meters) above sea level and displays a distinctive turquoise color caused by fine glacial sediment suspended in the water that reflects sunlight.
Construction of a power station at the lake's southern outflow began in 1938, was halted in 1942 by the Second World War, and the station, Tekapo A, came online in 1951. Water is diverted through a 1.4 km tunnel under the town; since the 1970s Upper Waitaki scheme it feeds a 26 km canal to Tekapo B on Lake Pukaki. In 2011 ownership passed from Meridian Energy to Genesis Energy.
Takapō means "to leave in haste at night"; "Tekapo" is a misspelling of this Māori name. In 2021 the Mackenzie District Council began using the dual names Tekapo and Takapō. Ngāi Tahu tradition says the lake was dug by the Waitaha explorer Rākaihautū with his digging stick Tūwhakaroria.
State Highway 8 provides direct access to the lakefront town of Tekapo, located roughly three hours and fifteen minutes by car from Christchurch, with daily shuttle services available from both Christchurch and Queenstown.
The Church of the Good Shepherd, built from local stone in 1935 on the shore, has become one of New Zealand's most photographed buildings because of its location with mountain and lake views.
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