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Lake Te Paritu

Coordinates: 37°17′29″S 176°16′3″E / 37.29139°S 176.26750°E / -37.29139; 176.26750
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Lake Te Paritu
Black Lake
Lake Te Paritu
Caldera of the Mayor Island (New Zealand) in 1986
Location of Lake Te Paritu
Location of Lake Te Paritu
Lake Te Paritu
Coordinates37°17′29″S 176°16′3″E / 37.29139°S 176.26750°E / -37.29139; 176.26750
Basin countriesNew Zealand
Surface area3.2 hectares (7.9 acres)

Lake Te Paritu, also known as Black Lake, is one of two small crater lakes on Mayor Island / Tuhua in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. It is connected to the larger Lake Aroarotamahine or Green Lake by a wetland, but there is no surface outlet to the sea as both lakes are in a depression.[1]

Black colour

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The lake has a black colour due to fine sediment. According to Māori legend, the black is the blood of Tuhua (obsidian) which fought a battle with Pounamu (greenstone) who, defeated, fled to the South Island.[2]

References

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  1. ^ New Zealand 1:50000 Topographic Map Series sheet BC37 – Mayor Island
  2. ^ Eagles, Jim (17 July 2009). "Bay of Plenty: The island of dark crystal". New Zealand Herald.